With the NAB Challenge now over, it’s time to prepare for a season opener at the Adelaide Oval that is less than two weeks away.

But there’s plenty to come out of the Roos’ pre-season campaign. NMFC.com.au takes a look at a handful of the interesting statistics to come out of matches against Adelaide, Hawthorn and Richmond.

Score Involvements

The player who instantly stands out is recruit Shaun Higgins. The former Bulldog kicked six goals himself – three each against the Crows and Tigers, meaning he has been involved in 13 more scoring shots.

Largely playing as a high half-forward with stints in the middle throughout the NAB Challenge, Higgins’ polish and poise can bring to the lineup has been immediately evident.

Inside 50’s

While the total numbers don’t jump off the page, the interesting part of this statistic is the players on the list.

North’s top four (average) for inside 50’s in 2014 were Brent Harvey, Levi Greenwood, Andrew Swallow and Cunnington. It was an entirely different quartet leading the way in the 2015 pre-season.

If a similar trend continues, it points to a greater unpredictability in the Roos’ ball movement going forward. When an inside 50 can be delivered effectively by upwards of six or seven players, opposition defences can be constantly stretched.

Minutes played

Over the past few seasons, a common trend has been for the key-position Roos to log a big share of minutes, with the midfielders rotated.

With Joel Tippett and Drew Petrie in the top four for the pre-season, it doesn’t appear that too much will change in terms of rotations.

Centre bounce attendances

It’s no surprise that these four are the most common sights at centre bounces, and barring injury much could remain the same in 2015.

There are still different looks that can be thrown into the middle though, with the likes of Daniel Wells and Nick Dal Santo more than capable of winning their own ball and delivering centre clearances.