Although key defender Ben McKay is expected to miss the start of the 2023 season, North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson believes that the rest of his key defenders will be able to minimise the blow of his absence.
Scans confirmed bone stress in McKay's right foot last week, adding to the list of interruptions the 25-year-old has suffered over the past 12 months.
It will be a tough hole to fill for the Kangaroos, but recent recruits have placed the club in a better position to do so compared to what may have been the case a year ago.
"Fortunately, we recruited Griffin Logue and we've got Aidan Corr and Kal Dawson and some other players that can play that sort of role," Clarkson said on the latest edition of North Melbourne's Member Q&A, presented by Mazda.
"It's always difficult when one of your key pillars in your back-end succumb to injury but that's the game and we've always had the adage 'lose a soldier, replace him with another one' – you just need a player that can step up.
"I think we've got the depth to be able to do that, Ben's got an unfortunate injury, but we'll fill that role with someone else and see how we go."
Someone who is gunning for another spot in the Round 1 side is emerging midfielder Tom Powell, who has enjoyed a standout pre-season at Arden Street.
Powell collected 17 disposals and kicked two goals in the practice match against the Western Bulldogs and is primed for a breakout 2023 campaign after 31 games in two years.
"He's had a really good summer," Clarkson said.
"He's put on some bulk and he's going into his third year now with Will Phillips who came out of the same draft as him (Powell).
"No one can be given an absolute guarantee (for Round 1) because you don't know what's going to transpire over this week, but he's had a good enough summer to put himself right in the mix for selection."
Eager to make an impact in his second season at the club, Clarkson says a committed Jackson Archer has been managed over recent weeks as the club assesses his training loads.
Archer's shuttle run times and overall intent to improve impressed coaches and players over pre-season, and the No.34 is now on the brink of returning to his regular program.
"We just pulled him back a little bit," Clarkson revealed.
"He's done a mountain of work to get himself fit and ready to go, if anything he overtrained, which is a good habit might I add.
"We've held him back a little bit over the past three-to-four weeks, he hasn’t technically been injured but his strength tests were starting to get to that level where we thought we might need to give him a rest … but he's nearly ready to go now."
