Much like the rest of North Melbourne's list, the best descriptors of the Kangaroos' forward group include 'exciting', 'youthful' and 'high-potential'.

To back that up, all you need to look at is the club’s list of eligible forwards on AFL fantasy. 19 players are included and the average age is barely older than 21. Jed Anderson is by far the oldest of the bunch and is the only forward older than 23.

Goals win games, and it’s the forwards who will need to continue their upward rise to help the Kangaroos win more games in 2022.

Players to watch

Nick Larkey
If Larkey was the unofficial leader of last season's forward line there’s no doubting his credentials now. After being sworn in as a member of the club’s leadership group ahead of this season, the 23 year old looks set to take his game to new heights.

In 2021, Larkey’s fortunes turned with the rest of the senior side and after the bye he was near irresistible. In the final 10 games of the season he kicked 29 goals and only went goalless once - in Round 16 against the Western Bulldogs.

His rise from late, late draft pick to North’s primary forward option has been remarkable, and his ability to improve from his disposal-less debut to his side’s man inside 50 has been brilliant viewing for North fans.

After a 12th-placed finish in last year's Coleman Medal, could this be the season Larkey stamps his name on the competition and becomes one of the AFL's most feared key forwards? After Round 19 last season, just ask Carlton and Jacob Weitering if it’s possible.

Eddie Ford
North Melbourne’s recent run of striking forward-line gold with late draft selections looks to be continuing with Eddie Ford. After Nick Larkey in the 2016 national draft, and Cam Zurhaar in the 2017 rookie draft, Ford looks to be the next late selection looking to make his mark.

Selected with the 56th pick in the 2020 draft, Ford was forced to bide his time at VFL level last year before earning selection as North’s medical substitute in Round 16, before finally making it onto the field for the first time in Round 20.

While competition for spots in North’s forward 50 is certainly stronger than it was last season, Ford will be hoping his final four games of last season bode well for his further development at AFL level this year.

He’s impressed when called upon so far this pre-season, especially against Melbourne, but he was used sparingly against both Melbourne and Sydney. Whether he’s in North’s best 22 from the get go or has to force his way into the side again remains to be seen.

Jack Mahony
There is no player who defines the phrase ‘quiet achiever’ on North Melbourne’s list quite like Jack Mahony. The pressure, structure and selfless attitude he brings into North Melbourne’s forward 50 goes well under the radar. 

After 10 games in his debut 2020 campaign, Mahony exploded to play 19 games in 2021 and quickly made himself an indispensable part of David Noble’s forward plans as he found more ways to find the football and influence the play with each performance.

The next stage of Mahony’s development must be be gaining the ability to hit the scoreboard more. He averaged 0.3 goals per game in his first season, and 0.47 goals per game in his second, so his improvement in that area is trending positively.

He’s kicked multiple goals twice in his young AFL career to date. His two-goal performance in the practice match against the Demons is certainly cause for optimism.

Tarryn Thomas and Jaidyn Stephenson - midfielders or forwards?

Both Thomas and Stephenson have shown potential to become full-time, match-winning inside midfielders, but both can also bring invaluable class and X-factor to the forward 50.

Stephenson’s best performance of 2021 came where he mainly ran through the midfield and collected 38 disposals in the win over West Coast, while Thomas kicked four goals in a 23-disposal masterclass in the victory over Carlton.

While both players are expected to run through the midfield and the forward line this year, how their on-field time is split could well define their seasons.

Can Charlie Comben get a clean run?

Since Comben's selection with the 31st pick in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft, no forward on North’s books has had as tough a run with injury.

After impressing in his first pre-season at the club, Comben’s debut campaign was put on ice after stress fractures were discovered in his back. His 2021 season was a similar story, with stress fractures in his tibia ruling him out of much of the campaign.

He returned mid-year and after some impressive reserve-level performances forced his way into the senior side for his long-awaited debut, in which he kicked a goal against the Swans in Round 22. However the next week in training he broke his collarbone and his season was ended early.

Comben’s future looks to lie in the forward line as opposed to the ruck thanks to the promise he’s shown as a genuine key forward. While there’s stiff competition to get into an already potentially tall Kangaroos forward line, should he maintain fitness this season he could easily play his way into David Noble’s plans.

Will the Larkey/Zurhaar partnership continue to thrive?

Larkey and Zurhaar are inseparable off the field, and perhaps it's their bond away from football that has allowed their on-field partnership to blossom.

The pair led North’s goalkicking charts for last season - Larkey with 42 goals to Zurhaar's 31. No pair kicked more combined goals in the second half of the season, competition-wide.

Zurhaar in particular will be hoping for a faster start to this season. ’The Bull’ went goalless in his first five appearances of 2021 and he was even trialled in the backline. His ability to bounce back and become one of the team’s top performers will have given him confidence heading into this campaign.

Opposition teams will know what to expect from the pair heading into this season, so it’s up to Kangaroos’ forward line to evolve in order to continue to get the best out of their star men.

More 2022 AFL Season Guides: Defenders | Midfielders | Full season preview