North Melbourne leader Shaun Higgins is bullish about his club’s chances because of a balanced mix of experience, high-end talent and youth.

"We expect to win games of footy straight up and when you look at it we have got a group that should – in terms of profile and age and games experience – be in the sweet spot," Higgins said.

"It is why the start of last year was disappointing on the back of what we did the year before.”

Higgins and Todd Goldstein are the oldest Kangaroos, with both hitting 32 in 2020.

The pair rejected offers from the Cats with Higgins’ belief in the squad a key factor.

"I want to be part of this as much as the young guys," Higgins told The Age.

"The great thing about 'Shawry' (Rhyce Shaw) is that he is in it for the long haul but he is in a hurry to get there, which is great when you are at the back end of your career.

"It really is a new place, which is, in some ways, good.”