Perhaps the single greatest positive for North Melbourne’s single VFL alignment is the opportunity for more Kangaroos to play together.

It’s in particular focus up forward at Werribee. At times during 2016, all of Majak Daw, Aaron Black, Mason Wood, Sam Durdin and Ben McKay will have the chance to play in the same side.

With all five capable of playing as a genuine key-forwards – Daw & Durdin spending time in the ruck as well – there's plenty of opportunity to improve.

At times for North Ballarat, Black would be the only tall forward close to goal, frequently outnumbered in tough situations.

At Werribee in 2015, teammates' injuries meant Daw was often relied upon to shoulder a heavy load in both the ruck and forward.

“It makes my job easier when I’m stuck on the other side of the ground and see Blacky take a mark long down the line,” Daw said of the new arrangement.

“It looks like he’s got that confidence back and he’s playing like the Aaron Black we knew a couple of years ago.

“A bit of that is to do with us North Melbourne players playing together and it’s only going to improve going forward.”

When Daw was in the ruck against Frankston, he was able to tap to the likes of Ryan Clarke, Declan Mountford and the Roos' emerging midfielders, all finding their way together in the same side.

“Being the main ruckman and getting to work with some of the first year boys (you get to see) each game they’ve improved,” he said. 

“We’ve got a little bit to go in terms of working with each other; me knowing how they play and them knowing how I play as well.”

Black meanwhile had 23 disposals and booted three goals on the weekend, but was quick to pile praise on his teammate, rather than focus on individual accolades.

“Maj was sensational, he was jumping all over the place,” he said.

“The bloke he was playing on was massive. He was giving away about 10 centimetres, but Maj’s leap, he just jumps over them, he was huge.

“And also when he went forward, he was marking them. Sam Durdin was taking a few sticky dukes down there and so was Benny McKay.”

Ultimately the goal for all the players is to push for an AFL berth - Mason Wood made himself impossible to ignore after 29 disposals and three goals in Round 1 of the VFL.

Like Black and Daw, he paid credit to those around him for his form.

“We’re in a really lucky position that we have four, five genuine key (forwards),” Wood said. 

“We’ll change them up, mismatches and that kind of thing, as much as we can during the year. We’ve got great options up forward.”