North’s NAB Challenge campaign started on a winning note, but ended with two losses. With the scoreboard irrelevant, the Roos can take plenty out of their pre-season campaign.

Daniel Wells

AFL.com.au
Daniel Wells' football future has looked bleak at times over the past two seasons, but the star midfielder looks to have put his recent injury woes behind him. Returning against Collingwood in round two of the NAB Challenge, Wells served a timely reminder of the class and zip he adds to North's line-up. If he can play close to a full season in 2016, the 31-year-old will give the Roos' outside run a much-needed boost.

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Daniel Wells has returned fit and firing after only playing two games last season. In his two NAB outings, he averaged 20.5 disposals, including 10 clearances and a goal against Hawthorn. With a disposal efficiency of 90 per cent, Wells adds a certain level of class to the Kangaroos. Welcome back.

Superfooty
There’s been an overwhelming positive, in the form of a fit-again Daniel Wells. It’s a cliche, but the line-breaking midfielder has been like a new recruit for Brad Scott and looks set — hopefully — to leave the injury nightmares of the past two years behind.

Ryan Clarke

AFL.com.au
Ryan Clarke has been the most impressive of the Roos' 2015 draftees this summer. Clarke looked right at home in North's round one NAB Challenge win over St Kilda, showcasing his ability to win the ball both on the inside and when spreading hard into space in an encouraging 13-possession debut. The Roos' second pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft, Clarke looks ready for senior action if called upon.

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Ryan Clarke was a ball magnet in the TAC Cup last year and burst onto the scene in the Kangaroos’ win against St Kilda with the same intensity that characterised his junior footy. His 13 disposals and four marks earmarked him as a player to watch this season. North Melbourne has been so impressed with Clarke that they’ve already re-signed him until the end of 2018.

Experienced campaigners

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The advancing age of North's list has been a popular talking point this pre-season, but its veterans have shown no signs of decline. Spearheads Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite have been as dangerous as ever inside North's forward 50 during the NAB Challenge, Nick Dal Santo looks set to continue his prolific ball-winning ways, while Brent Harvey, 38 in May, remains football's Peter Pan.

Despite the positives, including a big second half against the Saints and taking it to the reigning premier Hawthorn for two quarters, there’s plenty of work to do before round one.

Superfooty
The Roos have tweaked a few things at Arden St over summer in an attempt to avoid the slow starts that have hurt its last two campaigns. So it would have to be slightly concerning that they were pipped by Collingwood and blasted off the park in the second half against Hawthorn.

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Like most teams, the Kangaroos were pretty inconsistent throughout the NAB Challenge. The win against the Saints was impressive, but the Saints are still a bottom-tier side. A solid hitout against Collingwood could have gone either way and will hold Scott’s side in good stead for the intensity that comes with Round 1. But against a genuine premiership contender in Hawthorn, the Kangaroos were easily outclassed.

The Roos’ season-opener is now just 11 days away, with the Crows looming as an ominous opponent following their impressive NAB Challenge campaign.