North Melbourne will have big calls to make when draft day arrives in November, having traded away their 2025 first-round pick to Richmond in order to make earlier selections in last year's draft.
As a result, they currently hold picks 20, 21, 39, and 57 for the 2025 National Draft, which presents some unique paths the club can take to make the most of their haul.
According to Craft of the Draft analyst Jonty Ralphsmith, the Kangaroos' best approach would be to target a versatile small forward who can create goals inside 50 but also hit up targets inside 50 with accuracy from around the 50-metre arc.
"It's very clear they need a small forward. They need someone at the feet of their talls and, when it gets into the front end of the ground, someone that they can rely on to kick some goals," Ralphsmith said.
"A small forward who, when they're 70 metres out, you know they're going to hit a target. Someone who's going to deliver it really well inside 50... someone who is an important connecting option at high half-forward."
However, the better crop of small forwards may already be off the board by the time North Melbourne's first opportunity on the clock arrives. Craft of the Draft analyst Mitch Keating suggested that, if this is the case, a look into bolstering the Roos' key forwards stocks may be the best bet.
A key tall that could be available in that early-second round range is Taj Murray. The 199cm ruck-forward has starred with the Allies in 2025, averaging 15 hitouts and nearly a goal per game.
"There's so much x-factor to what he does as a tall, he can play forward, can play in the ruck as we know as he's been the starting ruck when he plays for the Allies... He brings elite A-Grade class," Ralphsmith said.
You can watch Craft of the Draft's North Melbourne analysis via the player below, or head to Zero Hanger's YouTube channel for the full episode.
