North boasts some outstanding talent in its forward half, and while only six can fit into the final 22, the competition can only be healthy.

To see what lies ahead of Rhyce Shaw and the match committee, you have to consider Ben Brown, Lachlan Hosie, Tarryn Thomas, Kayne Turner, Taylor Garner, Mason Wood, Aiden Bonar, new recruits Charlie Comben and Jack Mahoney, and of course emerging duo Nick Larkey and Cameron Zurhaar.

“There’s a lot of pressure in the forward line, which is great,” Zurhaar told The Herald Sun.

“It’s pretty young, Ben Brown is the oldest forward – 26 going on to 27.”

Look at the club’s top goal-kickers for 2019 and you can’t help but see an exciting future.

Zurhaar, Larkey and Thomas all sit comfortably among the top six, while Brown kicked more than60 goals for the third season in a row.

The Roos’ forward-line is “dangerous”, while some new faces in the playing and coaching staff have revitalised the squad.

“Every year every team wants to come out and make finals and win the flag,” Larkey said.

“It’s a different feel (this pre-season) to how it has been since I've been at the club and we haven't made finals in those other years.

“For me it feels better, it’s a better vibe, it can only mean better things.”

Shaw is now well and truly settled in, and has huge respect from his playing group.

“It’s just such a comfortable feel around the club … he’s (Shaw) always around, always there for a yarn,” Zurhaar added.

“It's kind of weird he’s head coach because it feels like a good mate … at the same time he knows exactly what he wants from us and he lets us know which is great.”

Larkey echoed his teammate’s sentiments.

“He’s got a good balance between friendship (and coach),” he said.

“He’s liked and respected, has got a good balance between having a laugh and knuckling down and telling you want he wants from you.”