Will Shaun Atley move into the middle in 2015? All signs on the training track point to yes, but Brad Scott says it’s a question still to be answered.

Speaking on RSN Racing & Sport on Friday, the North Melbourne coach highlighted Atley’s adaptability, but admitted any move would come on a needs basis.

“There’s no doubt he’s a very good player. He’s very versatile in the type of roles he can play for us, but I think it’s a constant argument,” Scott said.

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“The assumption that good defenders always move into the midfield is not quite right, but Shaun is very versatile.

“He’ll end up playing for us in 2015 where we need him, so if we need a bit more speed and line-breaking ability through the midfield he’ll play there. If we need him to take the really good opposition small-forward he’ll do that for us.”

Atley has spent much of the pre-season campaign working with North’s on-ballers, an invaluable experience even if he does continue to ply his trade in defence.

Scott said he was confident in his ability, but has learnt from experience that pushing players up the ground isn’t always the best path.

“I had the debate when I was at Collingwood as to whether Heath Shaw was going to be a midfielder in time,” Scott said.

“Certainly I came to the conclusion that we had an All-Australian half-back flanker who was looking to push into the midfield. Sometimes players are just very, very good as half-back flankers.”

After a whirlwind first season in which he played in three finals, Luke McDonald could also be eyeing some variety.

“Luke is in a lot of ways more versatile than even Shaun,” Scott said.

“Luke played a lot of his junior football as a forward. He played for his school and captained Vic Metro in the midfield and for us at the moment he’s playing predominantly as a defender.

“We think in times he’ll play all zones of the ground.”