North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the club will continue to focus on developing its midfield depth ahead of the 2019 season.
Finishing ninth on the ladder with a 12-10 record, Scott believes complementing his veteran on-ballers is what will take the Roos to another level.
“We’ve got to build a better, deeper midfield,” he told the media.
“Shaun Higgins has had an incredible year, Ben Cunnington has had an incredible year and Jed Anderson has matured and really burst onto the scene through the midfield.
“Jy Simpkin has played his second year in the midfield, Paul Ahern has been incredible having never played AFL football before after two knee reconstructions, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Will Walker have both played through the midfield.
“We’ve only been able to do that through to the consistent performances of Cunnington, Higgins and Goldstein, and we’re able to put the kids around them.
“We’re looking to build and improve that, and most of that will come from organic growth.”
With the focus of the bottom ten clubs now firmly fixed on list changes with the upcoming trade period, Scott isn’t willing to speculate on potential signings.
"I won't engage in the commentary around individual players, other than to say to our supporters, as we've seen this year people will build it up as though 'You've got to get one, or else'.
"Or what? Or we play Paul Ahern? Or Will Walker and Luke Davies-Uniacke play a full season? Or our first-round draft pick comes in? We've put ourselves in the position to be in the market place and I'll leave it to the powers that be to get that done.
"Our job this year was to play a style of footy that players thought: 'The Kangaroos are a place I wouldn't mind going'.
"Not too many players in the prime of their career want to go help build or rebuild a struggling club."