After a successful 2014 season, there’s a heightened sense of expectation on North this year.

In the first of NMFC.com.au’s ‘List Assessment’ pieces for the upcoming season, we assess the changes to the Roos’ average age and games’ experience and how the club stacks up against its competition.

2014 NMFC
Average Age: 24 years, 179 days (4th)
Games: 75.1 (3rd)

2015 NMFC
Average Age: 25 years, 128 days (2nd)
Games: 90.4 (1st)

In 2014, North’s average age jumped 10 places from 14th to fourth in the competition, while its average games played surged 11 spots from 14th to third.

In 2015, the Kangaroos have again opted to bring in mature bodies to complement the next generation and in doing so have increased their average age and games’ experience.

From the fourth most experienced list in the competition last year, the club enters this season with the second-oldest list – just behind Fremantle.

Additionally, the Roos rank first in the league for games’ experience this year – this time just ahead of the Dockers.

The signings of unrestricted free agents Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins have certainly bumped the Roos’ average age and games up considerably.

Waite brings 184 games’ experience and 252 goals following his 13 years at Carlton.

The 31-year-old will share the load with fellow tall Drew Petrie in North’s new-look forward line.

With the likes of Ben Brown, Aaron Black, Majak Daw, Mason Wood, Lindsay Thomas and Robbie Nahas all vying for positions, competition is set to be fierce in attacking 50.

In the centre, the Roos’ midfield stocks have been bolstered by the inclusion of Higgins.

The 26-year-old played 129 matches for the Western Bulldogs and booted 128 goals in nine seasons.

Higgins will inject versatility – similar to Nick Dal Santo last year – so he’s sure to add more value to the side than a key position player.

Expect to see Higgins strolling through the middle, rebounding off half-back and even drifting into attack.

The big question in the midfield is whether the Roos can overcome the loss of Levi Greenwood, who joined Collingwood in last year’s trade period.

IN: 313 games of experience
Jarrad Waite (unrestricted free agent)
Shaun Higgins (unrestricted free agent)
Sam Durdin (pick 16, national draft)
Daniel Nielson (pick 25, national draft)
Ed Vickers-Willis (pick 36, national draft)
Braydon Preuss (pick 15, rookie draft)
Will Fordham (pick 33, rookie draft)

OUT: 161 games of experience
Liam Anthony (delisted)
Tom Curran (delisted)
Cameron Delaney (delisted)
Levi Greenwood (traded to Collingwood)
Taylor Hine (delisted)
Tim McGenniss (delisted)
Mitch Wilkins (delisted)

If you subtract the departures in the off-season – led by Greenwood after his 74 games for North – the Roos have gained a total of 152 games’ experience from this time last year.

Players over 30
It’s interesting to note the club will enter the season with six players aged 30 or over – Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite, Michael Firrito, Nick Dal Santo and Daniel Wells – which further reveals that the 2015 and 2016 seasons could present the best opportunities, at least on paper.

The Dockers will also start the year with six players aged 30 years or over.

The tables below, ranked in order, emphasise the importance of age and experience in the AFL system and highlight the changes from the 2014 season:

Remarkably, if you take out Brent Harvey (384 games), the average games per player drops by almost 10 to 80.83, ranking North fifth.

The figures supplied by Champion Data underline just how crucial age and experience is to a team’s playing list.

While they’re only an indication, there is often a strong correlation between a team’s age, experience and overall ladder positions at the end of the year.

There’ll always be some exceptions to the rule. Port Adelaide and Geelong, for instance, both bucked the trend last season, according to the figures.

The big mover in the rankings this year is Essendon, climbing six places in average age and five spots in experience.

The Bombers’ rise is certainly aided by the signings of Adam Cooney (219 games for the Western Bulldogs) and James Gwilt (126 games for St Kilda).

Port Adelaide has also improved its statistical ranking in age and experience, while reigning premier Hawthorn has rated in the top four.

At the opposite end of the scale, Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs and GWS round out the bottom three in both categories.

Back to North, it’ll be interesting to see whether the club has struck the right blend of youth and experience this season.

One thing is certain, though, there’s no disputing the Roos’ have bolstered their list with the addition of some experienced campaigners.