We are just days out from the 2022 NAB AFL Draft, where North Melbourne will secure as many as four talented players for the future.

The Kangaroos have a history of finding gems, but this time list and recruiting manager Brady Rawlings is armed with two top-three selections, to go with picks 23 and 40.

It's an exciting time of year, so we've trawled through the club's history of selections to illustrate when that potential has turned into performance.

In reverse chronological order, here are North Melbourne's 10 best draft days since the intake was introduced in 1987.

2018

Tarryn Thomas (pick 8, NGA), Curtis Taylor (pick 46), Bailey Scott (pick 49, father-son)

A Kamilaroi and Lumaranatana man from western Sydney, Thomas relocated to Tasmania in 2012. Six years on, he became North Melbourne's first Next Generation Academy graduate.

Having spent his first two seasons as a hit-up forward, Taylor has since evolved into a two-way runner across the wing and forward flank.

The son of North premiership player Robert, Scott has impressed on both the wing and half-back flank over the last two campaigns.

Having each passed the 50-game milestone last season, their experience, versatility and positional sense will prove essential as Alastair Clarkson reshapes the Kangaroos.

2016

Jy Simpkin (pick 12), Nick Larkey (pick 73), Cam Zurhaar (rookie pick 11)

A small forward in the top-five frame, Simpkin slipped to North Melbourne's selection after he broke his leg in a match for Scotch College.

The Yorta Yorta man from Mooroopna has since developed into a prolific onballer, ascended to the co-vice captaincy and won back-to-back Syd Barker Medals.

Larkey played just two senior games in his first two seasons, and in 2018 won the Frosty Miller Medal as the leading goalkicker in the VFL.

His apprenticeship has proven worthwhile; the 24-year-old has booted 80 goals over the past two seasons to lead the Kangaroos' goalkicking twice.

He has been closely followed by Zurhaar, who has won a reputation as an entertainer in his role as a stretch second tall.

2013

Luke McDonald (pick 8, father-son), Trent Dumont (pick 30), Ben Brown (pick 47), Kayne Turner (rookie pick 25)

The son of former key position Roo Donald, McDonald was an instant sensation in the backline as Brad Scott guided North Melbourne to consecutive preliminary finals.

In 2020 he won the Syd Barker Medal having successfully taken on several tagging assignments, and since then he has served as co-vice captain.

Drafted from Norwood where he played in a senior premiership at 18, Dumont took time to settle at the level but went on to become a staple from 2017 to 2021.

The tough, hard-running winger accumulated 113 games in blue and white, and placed sixth, fourth and fifth in the Syd Barker Medal count from 2018 to 2020.

A raw ruck-forward from Hobart, Brown first featured late in his first year, and went on to boot more than 60 goals in each season from 2017 to 2019.

He can consider himself unlucky not to have won a Coleman Medal or an All-Australian nod, but he played in a premiership with Melbourne.

Turner was similarly impactful out of the gate; he laid nine tackles in the Roos' semi-final win over Geelong, and turned up for school two days later.

2009

Ben Cunnington (pick 5), Ryan Bastinac (pick 21), Aaron Black (pick 25), Jamie Macmillan (pick 37), Majak Daw (rookie pick 9)

Drafted from Cobden in western Victoria, Cunnington's contested ball chops and famous fend have made him a modern North Melbourne icon.

Having overcome testicular cancer to return late last season, the 31-year-old penned a two-year contract extension to continue his career.

Bastinac was a regular on the ball from 2010 to 2015, and enjoyed his best season in 2012 when he averaged 23 disposals to go with 12 goals.

Plucked from Peel Thunder south of Perth, Black produced strong seasons in 2013 and 2014 as a key forward.

A skilful left footer, Macmillan featured on the half-back flank and in the midfield over 157 games before he moved into an operations role at the club.

The first Sudanese-born player to be drafted, Daw represented the Roos in every key position over 54 games, and won the 2016 Mark of the Year award.

2007

Robbie Tarrant (pick 15), Levi Greenwood (pick 32), Scott Thompson (pick 37), Nathan Grima (rookie pick 14)

Tarrant experienced persistent injuries early in his career, but his switch to the backline saw him flourish at AFL level.

A strong interceptor with the range to wrestle stay-at-home full forwards, he played more than 20 games in every season from 2015 to 2019 and won the best and fairest in 2016.

Greenwood was a mainstay in midfield from his second season, and was runner-up to Ben Cunnington in the Syd Barker Medal before he departed as a free agent in 2014.

A natural stopper, Thompson was able to get into the heads of the competition's most prolific key forwards, and was rewarded with All-Australian selection in 2013.

He was most often partnered by Grima, a versatile defender best remembered for his only goal against Essendon, and a wicked sense of humour.

2006

Lachie Hansen (pick 3), Todd Goldstein (pick 37), Lindsay Thomas (pick 53), Aaron Edwards (pick 82), Leigh Adams (rookie pick 3), Matt Campbell (rookie pick 34)

Regarded as one of the prime talls in his draft class, Hansen was able to plug in at both ends of the ground over a decade with North Melbourne.

Injuries hampered the Gippsland Power product throughout his career, but he enjoyed fruitful seasons as a forward from 2010 to 2012, and as a defender in 2013 and 2014.

Having had to bide his time behind twin rucks David Hale and Hamish McIntosh, Goldstein has since become an all-time Arden Street great.

The 34-year-old currently holds the record for the most hitouts in a game (80) and all-time (9,251), was an All-Australian in 2015 and is set to notch his 300th game in 2023.

A crumbing forward who could compete in the air, Thomas battled inconsistency in front of goal early in his career to finish with 205 games and 325 goals.

The Kokatha and Wirangu man led the club's goalkicking tally in 2010 and 2013.

A tough onballer, Adams retired after only 104 games having grappled with ongoing concussion symptoms. Having stepped in as the Kangaroos' interim senior coach last season, he currently looks after the forwards.

Small forwards Edwards and Campbell represented North from 2007 to 2012 in 78 and 82 games, respectively.

2002

Daniel Wells (pick 2), Hamish McIntosh (pick 9), Michael Firrito (rookie pick 10)

The twilight phase of Wells' career was soured by injuries, but to that point he was consistently brilliant for North Melbourne.

A Wirangu and Wangkatha man, he won the Syd Barker Medal in 2011 and 2013, and his 'Jackie Chan' Goal of the Year from 2004 is still replayed and re-enacted.

Another affected by injuries throughout his career, McIntosh partnered David Hale in the ruck from 2006 to 2010, and was named in the All-Australian squad in 2007.

Despite having been selected so late, Firrito featured in the seniors in his first season, and went on to play 275 games as a back pocket capable of negotiating bigger opponents.

2000

Daniel Motlop (pick 8), Daniel Harris (pick 14), Drew Petrie (pick 23), Saverio Rocca (pick 30), Daniel Pratt (pick 42), Corey Jones (pick 60), Leigh Harding (rookie pick 13), Digby Morrell (rookie pick 44)

The younger brother of premiership player Shannon, Motlop made 47 appearances for the Roos and was nominated for the Rising Star before he headed to Port Adelaide.

One of the League's most determined tacklers at the time, Harris set the physical tone in the Roos midfield over 149 games before he signed with expansion team Gold Coast.

A ruck-forward early in his career, Petrie settled into the latter in the late 2000s, led the club's goalkicking on five occasions and became the fifth Roo to reach 300 games.

After nine seasons with Collingwood, Rocca led the Roos' goalscoring in 2001, 2002 and 2004 before he went on to a career as a punter in the NFL.

Pratt was delisted after two seasons without having played a game, but he was selected again in 2004 and went on to play 116 games as a back pocket.

A small forward who could go up the ground, Jones booted more than 20 goals in every season from 2003 to 2008, including 46 in 2007.

Another crumbing forward, Harding ran out in 141 games and kicked 157 goals, and led the club's goalkicking in 2003.

A fan favourite, Morrell was plucked as a mature-aged recruit from West Perth and enjoyed strong seasons in 2002 and 2003.

1998

Brady Rawlings (pick 15), Shannon Motlop (pick 85), Shane Clayton (pick 90)

Now the club's list and recruiting boss, Rawlings was one of the competition's pre-eminent two-way midfielders over 245 games for the Roos, and won three Syd Barker Medals.

He was joined by Motlop, who featured in North Melbourne's 1999 Grand Final victory in just his seventh game.

Clayton arrived at the Roos with a late selection after 18 games with Fitzroy and Brisbane, and ran up 99 in blue and white.

1995

Scott Welsh (pick 17), Brent Harvey (pick 47), Peter Bell (pre-season pick 15)

Welsh was also a part of the premiership team in 1999, before he returned to Adelaide having experienced homesickness.

He would go on to lead the Crows' goalkicking on four occasions, and played a part in the Western Bulldogs' run of preliminary final appearances in the late 2000s. 

Harvey represents one of the greatest value selections in draft history, having gone on to become the VFL/AFL games record holder.

A speedy midfielder and forward, he claimed five Syd Barker Medals, four All-Australian selections and a premiership medallion, and captained the club from 2009 to 2011.

Now a development coach, Harvey's career has bridged the Roos' brilliant past and exciting future.

A member of the inaugural Fremantle team, Bell was delisted after only two games but won a second chance with North Melbourne.

After two premierships, All-Australian selection in 1999 and a Syd Barker Medal in 2000, Bell made his way back to the Dockers where he currently serves as general manager of football.