There’s not much that gets an AFLW fan’s pulse racing quite like a draft. Whether you have pick one, pick 80, or anything and everything in between, the opportunity for a club to invest in young talent is a crucial part of its growth.

By taking five players in the draft - Taylah Gatt, Sophia McCarthy, Charli Granville, Grace Matser and Cassidy Mailer - the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos selected more players than any other Victorian club besides the two expansion teams.

Those five draftees, plus rookie signing Zoe Savarirayan and Irish recruits Vikki Wall and Erika O’Shea represent something of a changing of the guard for the team.

Senior coach Darren Crocker says he’s excited for pre-season with all the new faces.

“[I’m] pleased we were able to fill a few needs. We were pretty strategic about what we were after,” Crocker told North Media.

“Pre-season is always about trying to build where you’re at with your fitness and your conditioning, but we’ve felt we’ve been able to introduce a lot more game-like drills.

“Hopefully the understanding is getting better all the time and we’re growing … all the time.”

It isn’t just the new recruits North fans will have their eyes on this pre-season, but also those young players who are ready to take that next leap forward.

With most of last year’s draft class still on the books, as well as a number of other young stars, any number of players could take the next step in their careers this season.

Crocker has earmarked three players in particular who can take big jumps this season.

“I think the experience for Tess (Craven) to go back and play VFLW towards the end of that season has given her enormous confidence … I’m looking forward to where she can take her football this season,” Crocker said.

“Bella Eddey is another one. [She’s] had two seasons under her belt and with another pre-season, even though it’s a shorter pre-season, is working really hard.

“Amy (Smith) was another one who went back and played VFLW and seemed to gain enormous confidence out of that experience.

“They’re three that spring to mind."