While being star-studded in the midfield in recent seasons, with Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Cam Guthrie and Mark Blicavs dismantling opposition teams, the pressure is more immense heading into their 2018 campaign.
Media personnel, and former North Melbourne premiership player, David King, has specifically called out their midfield, saying it's time to deliver the goods.
"They [Selwood, Dangerfield and Ablett] kicked 60 (goals) between them last year. They need 90," King told heraldsun.com.au.
With the acquisition of Ablett in the off-season, King identified the problem for coach Chris Scott.
"This is going to be a management arm-wrestle for Scott and his fellow coaches."
โDangerfield kicked 45 last year. Whatโs Gary going to do? Heโs kicked 8, 10 and 10 the last three years. Theyโre low numbers. This is a team, the Gold Coast Suns, they needed him to go forward and kick goals and he had opportunity but he was never a happy player there the last period and didnโt play a lot of games.
โI think when you look at Selwood, heโs never been a big goalkicker either โ 7, 9 and 14 the last three years. So theyโre not big numbers."
The Cats are a bit thin in terms of goalkicking this year, with the departure of Steven Motlop, and the injury with Lachie Henderson forcing Harry Taylor to return to the backline for the start of the year.
