With the season now over for North Melbourne, we haven take a look back at some of the defining numbers from the year.

Team

Despite the Roos finishing in 12^th position on the AFL ladder, they were the eighth-best scoring team, averaging nearly 83 points per game. 

Promisingly, 36 per cent of the team’s 265 goals came from players aged 23 or under, with Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar (26 goals) leading the way in this department.

The Roos found themselves in the top 8 teams for total disposals (sixth) contested possessions (eighth), and handballs (eighth). 

North will need to improve its numbers in clearances (15^th), marks (18^th), tackles (18^th) and kicks (18^th) if it is to rise up the ladder in 2020. 

Four Rising Star nominations (Bailey Scott, Cam Zurhaar, Tarryn Thomas and Nick Larkey) was the most of any club.

Defenders

Robbie Tarrant continues to build a reputation as one of the most underrated defenders in the competition.

Tarrant led the Roos in most of the key defensive areas, finishing first in marks (137), intercept marks (47) and spoils (139). 

The number 25 also went at an impressive 85.6 per cent disposal efficiency. 

Jasper Pittard slotted into the North backline seamlessly in 2019, proving an astute addition to the likes of Scott Thompson and Robbie Tarrant.

Pittard ranked second at the club in marks (131) and spoils (126), and third in intercept marks (42). 

Utility Shaun Atley enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 20 disposals for the first time.

Midfielders

Ben Cunnington enjoyed a career-best year, and led North for contested possessions (15.6 per game) and clearances (7.3), and was second in disposals (26.6).

Cunnington’s numbers were among the best in the league, as he totaled the third-most clearances, and fourth-most contested possessions.

The number 10’s brilliant year earned him a spot in the 40-man Virgin All-Australian squad.  

Jared Polec was brought to North to provide outside run and for his penetrating kicking ability, and he did exactly that.

Polec led the Roos for metres gained per game (441m) and kicks (15.4). 

Despite Shaun Higgins missing four games with a shoulder injury, he was still one of the Roos’ most influential midfielders. 

His average of 28.4 disposals was the best at Arden Street, and was a career-best for the number four. Higgins also ranked second for metres gained (428.6m) and kicks (12.1). 

Todd Goldstein enjoyed his best year since his All-Australian nod in 2015, averaging 33.5 hit-outs (sixth in the league for ruckmen), 16.8 disposals (fourth) and 5.8 score involvements (third). 

Goldstein’s 9.1 contested possessions per game was the third-highest at North.

Jack Ziebell was one of just nine midfielders in the competition to average at least 20 disposals and 1 goal across 2019, highlighting his ability to impact in different parts of the ground.

Jed Anderson led the way in tackles (5.5) and pressure acts (22.1). 

Forwards

Ben Brown enjoyed another fine season as the main man in the forward 50, kicking 60+ goals for the third season running. 

Brown’s 64 goals were the second-highest total in the competition, and he also led the club for time on ground (97.7 per cent), and contested marks (1.6). 

The number 50 joined Cunnington in the 40-man Virgin Australia All Australian Squad. 

Cam Zurhaar enjoyed a breakout season, kicking 26 goals (2^nd for North), and also led the way for goal assists with 15.

Nick Larkey was another youngster to enjoy a breakout season, sitting equal-second for goals with Zurhaar, and having the best goal accuracy of any North forward (66.7 per cent). 

Larkey’s accuracy was the equal-fourth highest in the league for players to have kicked at least 20 goals.