North Melbourne first-round draft pick Lachy Dovaston's maiden pre-season in the blue and white has the crafty small forward firmly in consideration for a Round 1 debut.
Wednesday's training session at Arden Street saw the Eastern Ranges product catch the eye with his combination of continuous goal threats and front-half pressure on both sides of possession.
The Pick 16 selection's physicality on the defensive end was a constant headache for his direct matchup throughout the session, which featured match simulation and scenario play drills.
Dovaston looms as a strong chance to suit up against Port Adelaide when the Roos host the Power at Marvel Stadium for their season opener on March 15, contending with the likes of Jacob Konstanty, Robert Hansen and fellow recruit Charlie Spargo for a role in Alastair Clarkson's side.
The Vic Metro talent made a name for himself in 2025 as a threatening small forward who could also roll up the field as an additional midfielder, which is a role he looks set to take on with the Kangaroos.
Added to his presence as a zippy attacker is Dovaston's efforts on the defensive end, with his strong tackling and work rate up the ground seeing him emerge as one of the best prospects from last year's draft class.
The teenager will look to join the chorus of Kangaroos keen to support spearhead Nick Larkey, with 2025 breakout Roo Paul Curtis and livewire Cameron Zurhaar also in that group.
Veteran Jack Darling looks set to resume his place as a second tall, while Mid-Season Draft addition Cooper Trembath was another to earn plenty of plaudits at Wednesday's session.
The swingman talent, who kicked three goals in each of his first three games for North Melbourne last year, is well positioned to start the 2026 season in the senior side, bringing a strong-marking role while looking to add ruck craft to his bow.
Trembath's Round 1 prospects will be buoyed by the absence of talls training with the main group, as Callum Coleman-Jones, Aidan Corr, Griffin Logue and Blake Thredgold were joined by Zac Fisher and the aforementioned Hansen in training off to the side.
Corr will miss the next month at least with a calf strain, while Coleman-Jones is dealing with a similar ailment and will be sidelined for the next fortnight. Spargo will return to action in late February as he deals with a shoulder concern.
Young flanker was only able to watch on from the sidelines, while Jackson Archer was not sighted following his ACL injury last Saturday.
Second-year Roo Luke Urquhart was limited by a suspected foot concern.
North Melbourne has been able to make up the numbers with train-on players, including ex-Adelaide forward Lachie Gollant, who has joined the club's VFL program.
Overlooked draft talent Xavier Bamert and Felix Kneipp were also present, as was 2026 father-son prospect Sam Harris, the son of 149-game ex-Roo Daniel.
Harris, a member of the Calder Cannons, showed strong signs as a bottom-ager last year and will be in the Roos' draft plans for the season ahead. Fellow father-son prospect Aidan McCartney, son of Jason, is set to link up with the club later in the pre-season as part of his AFL Academy commitments.
The moment of the day's session came from young star George Wardlaw with less than a minute left in a late-game match simulation scenario drill, with the two sides separated by less than a kick.
A boundary throw-in on the wing resulted in a Wardlaw clearance, with the hard-nosed midfielder weaving past three players before delivering a pinpoint kick inside 50 onto the chest of Darling.
The play was met with widespread applause from teammates in what was a welcome sight for onlookers, given Wardlaw's limited 2025 campaign.
