NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott says the club will determine its interest in former Brisbane Lions defender Joel Macdonald when it reaches its final pick in next week's NAB AFL Draft.
Macdonald has nominated for the pre-season draft, meaning his football future can't be decided until December 15.
North's last pick in the main pool is No.53, which it would need to hold over if it wants Macdonald.
Macdonald was delisted by the Lions last month after playing 80 games in six years.
Though he appeared in all 22 home and away games this year, he was dropped for the club's two finals and requested a trade.
Scott saw Macdonald run a time trial at Princes Park early last week and didn't rule out recruiting the 25-year-old.
"We'll have a decision to make with our last pick at 53, whether we use that on a young player, an experienced player who's nominated or hold that over for the pre-season [draft]," he said.
"We haven't decided that yet."
The Roos will also face a decision on ex-Demon Simon Buckley, who has been training with them for two weeks.
Buckley was recently cut by Melbourne after 21 games in three seasons.
The 22-year-old is still recovering from post-season hip surgery and will be unable to run until early next month.
"We've been taking him through his rehab so he'll certainly come under consideration," Scott said. "But he's one of a number of players we've got our eye on."
Scott added it was disappointing that second-year midfielder Liam Anthony's pre-season had been interrupted by a hand injury.
Anthony damaged a tendon in his left ring finger when he cut it on a glass lamp last weekend and, with his hand in a cast, won't be able to do ball work for eight weeks.
"Footy's hard enough without losing a player to a freak accident like that," Scott said. "We know injuries happen but they don't usually happen off the footy field.
"It's unfortunate but the positive side is that he's going to be able to run. One of his goals is to really improve his aerobic base and he'll certainly get ample opportunity to do that now."
Scott confirmed that 2009 best and fairest winner Andrew Swallow had overcome groin soreness to return to running at Arden Street on Friday morning.
The 22-year-old should join his teammates for training within a fortnight.
Scott also acknowledged the progress of Jack Ziebell, who has well and truly recovered from a broken leg and hip surgery.
Ziebell played 10 games for the Roos this year and, like Anthony, is expected to figure prominently in 2010.
"He's been on a graduated training program and he's back in full training now and looking really strong," Scott said.
"For a second-year player, he's amazing. He looks like he's been in the system for about six years."
The Roos will move into their new facilities at the start of December and Scott said he wanted every player, including his prospective draftees, to feel they had the resources to get the most out of themselves.