NORTH Melbourne has finalised its squad for the 2009 season, securing five players in Tuesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

Two are familiar faces – Alan Obst and Irishman Conor Meredith – while three complement the additions that arrived in the main pool on November 29.

North took a 'best player available' approach to its first selection (No. 9), recruiting midfielder Marcus White, who had been training with Melbourne.

The 18-year-old was the captain of TAC Cup side Calder Cannons in 2008 but suffered a broken leg early in the year that forced him to the sidelines, ruining his prospects of representing Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships.

White was used in various roles by the Cannons upon his return, which included a clash with Adelaide's No. 10 selection in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft, Patrick Dangerfield. He also kicked six goals in a game against Eastern Ranges.

"We're really happy to get Marcus," talent ID manager Bryce Lewis told kangaroos.com.au. "We rate him. He's a good size, he's got good pace and he's hard."

While White was picked on talent, Lewis said Geelong Falcon Luke Delaney (No. 25) matched the club's need for a tall defender.

Delaney spent time as a forward, backman and ruckman in 2008, but best demonstrated an ability to play on key opposition targets against Sandringham graduates Jack Watts and Tyrone Vickery.

"There weren't a lot of tall defenders about and, last year, playing as an 18-year-old, he had some disruption with injury," Lewis said.

"Luke has those defensive traits you're looking for in players who play on the power forwards."

Another midfielder, South Australian Benjamin Speight, arrived with selection No. 40 and his third-round availability was a surprise.

"Benjamin Speight was one that we didn't think would be there with our third pick. He was an automatic selection for us."

For Obst, it's a second chance. The 21-year-old spent two years on North's rookie list and, though he was removed at season's end, he continued to train at Arden Street.

With its final selection, North had already declared an international rookie position for Meredith and that was formalised with No. 68. The 19-year-old spent a week with the club in November, three months after he was spotted by talent manager Cameron Joyce at a camp in Ireland.

West Australian Cruize Garlett was the only player on North's rookie list before Tuesday's draft, following the elevation of Michael Wundke and Nathan Grima and the delisting of Obst and James Wilsen.