Ryan Bastinac has struggled to adjust to life in the new-look North Melbourne midfield headed by former Saint Nick Dal Santo, Roos coach Brad Scott says.

Bastinac is averaging 18 disposals a game this season, well down on his 2012 and 2013 averages of 22.7 and 21.3 possessions respectively.
In the past two seasons combined, Bastinac had 16 or fewer possessions in just five games.

But in North's first seven games this year, Bastinac has already failed to exceed 16 possessions four times, winning just 12 disposals in the Roos' most recent match, the disappointing 43-point round seven loss to Gold Coast.

On Wednesday, Scott was at pains to point out that possessions aren't everything, saying Bastinac had played some defensive roles for North this season.

But the Roos coach said Dal Santo's arrival and Levi Greenwood's senior recall had altered North's midfield mix in 2014, and Bastinac was still getting used to it.

"Ryan's adjusting to some personnel changes," Scott said.

"Nick Dal Santo has come into the mix, Levi Greenwood is back in playing a defensive midfield role, so Ryan's been thrown around a little bit this year in different positions.

"As we've explained to him, the best sides in the competition are proving to be extremely flexible and we're working on that as well.

"So, while his numbers aren't everything, I think once he adjusts to the way we're playing a bit better he'll pick up in the second half of the year."

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The No. 21 pick in the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, Bastinac made a seamless transition into the AFL, playing all 22 games in his debut season to finish fifth in the NAB AFL Rising Star award and 10th in North's best and fairest award.

At the time, Bastinac looked capable of becoming one of the best midfielders in the competition, but the hard runner has since made steady rather than spectacular progress.

After an injury-interrupted second season, Bastinac finished eighth in North's 2012 best and fairest and sixth last season.

Despite his slow start to 2014, Scott is confident Bastinac, who turns 23 next month and has played 86 games, can become an elite midfielder.

"I've got a lot of time for him, I think he's going to be a top-line midfielder," Scott said.

"Last year, he was right on the cusp of breaking through to be a really top-level, A-grade midfielder.

"He would say by his own admission he's not there yet, but he's still a young player and he's still improving."