An even spread of contributors in the midfield has lifted North in the first half of the season, with each member playing key roles when called upon.

Skipper Andrew Swallow sits second in the competition for total tackles (107), All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein began the year where he left off, and Sam Gibson and Jack Ziebell have featured in every game.

NMFC.com.au sat down with midfield coach Josh Drummond to chat about how his line was tracking at the halfway point of the season.

Nick Dal Santo
14 games, 325 disposals

"'Dal' is very similar to Cunnington in that he's been consistent in his output.

"The strength of our group is that we don't rely on any one individual dominating, and Dal gives us a good mix of inside ball-winning ability and outside class.

"He's been strong for us but like the others, there's still upside for us to get more wins through the middle."

Sam Gibson
14 games, 297 disposals

"He's a guy who can win the footy and give us a bit going our way, but we also know he can limit some opposition influence as well.

"His role changes somewhat week-to-week. At the start of the year, he backed himself to play to his strengths and he was able to hit the scoreboard a fair bit.

"He's played a few negating roles as well so he's given us great flexibility."

Jack Ziebell
14 games, 323 disposals

"He's been terrific. He's been a real leader for us in there and taken his game to another level.

"He drives a lot of our standards and the way we want to play, and the positive is that there's a fair bit of upside there for him as well.

"He gives us flexibility in that he can go forward, but his main position is that of an inside midfielder."

Ben Cunnington
13 games, 282 disposals

"He's been a terrifically consistent player for us. He goes in, wins his own ball every week and he feeds it out to our guys on the outside, and this year has been no different.

"We're looking for much more of the same from him in the second half. He's an elite contested player so if he's not winning it himself, he's providing good pressure.

"He's been resilient over his time here, so the only shock was that he actually missed a game (with a quad complaint)."

Todd Goldstein
13 games, 186 disposals

"It was going to be a challenging year for him given he was the No.1 ruckman last year and teams now really targeted him, but he handled that really well.

"By his own standards, he's probably dropped off a little bit over the last two or three weeks, so the bye's come at a good time for him to freshen up.

"His body is fine but he lost continuity at training and playing – in round 10 and round 11 he lost a bit of continuity because of the knee complaint – but he'll get that back over the next couple of weeks and we're looking for a big second half."

Andrew Swallow
13 games, 245 disposals

"He was coming from a fair way back because of the off-season surgery he had on both knees, so we knew it was going to be a slow burn getting his match fitness and his touch back.

"That's what held him back over the pre-season and why he was a bit scratchy early, but he's come along in leaps and bounds.

"He's a great competitor and it shows why he's our captain – he hunts the ball and if he hasn't got the ball, he hunts the opposition really strongly and he very rarely lets them go."

Daniel Wells
11 games, 246 disposals

"It's been great to have him back. He adds a different dynamic to our midfield and really complements our insiders really well.

"He's a bit like Goldstein in that he's had a few little hiccups, which with the bye he'll get right and we'll get him back on the track.

"He's been terrific for us – he's really added to the defensive side of our game with his pressure and closing speed."

Ben Jacobs
Seven games, 87 disposals

"He had a bit more of a limited prep and missed round one, but from when he came back in he did some really good jobs on guys like (Brisbane Lions midfielder Daniel) Rich and (St Kilda midfielder Jack) Steven.

"He's been terrific and continued his role that he did so well last year, so we'll be eager to get him back in hopefully in the next month or so."

Trent Dumont
Four games, 71 disposals

"We knew he was ready to go with the form he's been showing over the last 18 months in the VFL and a bit at AFL level.

"There's obviously a bit of depth in there for us and guys playing in his spot, but he's come in the last month and has been super for us.

"He's clean, hard and makes good decisions with ball in hand, so he's going to be a hard bloke to take out of the side … and we're looking forward to getting some games into him."

Majak Daw
Three games, 32 disposals

"He's been good. He played in round 23 last year as our sole ruckman with 'Goldy' out and against Richmond again this year (in round 11), and both those times he's acquitted himself well.

"With his size, his vertical leap and ability to follow up and use his physical strength, he can have a real impact in that area, whether that's pinch-hitting or as our No.1 ruckman.

"While he's not a spring chicken, he's still pretty young in terms of learning the ruck position and the ruck craft, so there's plenty of upside there."

Farren Ray
Three games, 37 disposals

"When he's come in, he hasn't let us down in terms of being able to play his role and do what we knew he could do with his strengths playing as that winger and at half-back.

"We've been really happy with how he's been going and what he's done when he's been out there.

"Again, he's another one who can build off a pretty strong first half of the year."