North Melbourne's 2026 season has had moments of disappointment, but it has also had some genuine development and bright sparks for the first time in nearly a decade.
Finally, the green shoots are growing into trees and the performances of Finn O'Sullivan, Cooper Trembath, George Wardlaw and more make the Roos the most exciting trade proposition they have been since the mid-2010s.
Add into the mix Luke Davies-Uniacke, Harry Sheezel, Nick Larkey, Tristan Xerri and Charlie Comben and the club is starting to look more and more like a finals quality side.
So who are the trade targets for North Melbourne this off-season? Let's hope to the high heavens it includes some key defenders.
Gryan Miers (Geelong)
The enemy of North Melbourne is often itself as the Roos work tirelessly to create chances only to miss kicks inside 50 or shots at goal, so how good would the addition of the AFL's - tongue-in-check - version of Lionel Messi?
Gryan Miers made a name for himself early days thanks to his strange kicking style, but that quickly changed as his reputation grew as the assist king of the league.
A recent ACL strain and time out of the Cats senior side seems to have opened the door to Miers looking for opportunities elsewhere in 2027.
Carlton seems to be the leading contender if he was to leave, but North Melbourne should pounce immediately on Miers.
Just imagine Miers' delicate touches by foot to the likes of Larkey, Trembath and Paul Curtis inside the Roos attack, it would lead to cleaner entries and undoubtably higher scores.
Miers is contracted until the end of 2028, so North Melbourne would have to tempt Geelong with a strong offer. But given the Cats are in the hunt for Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters, perhaps their heads could be turned in a trade for 27-year-old Miers.
