Pre-season training continued away from Aegis Park as the ground redevelopment drew closer to completion.

The playing list split its time between Craigieburn Reserve and Princes Park for skills and running, while still utilising the Aegis Park gym for weights.

In a glimpse of what was to come, Sam Gibson spoke about how any possible leadership qualities for him would develop after he was fully integrated into the starting 22 and team as a whole.

Listing getting through the middle of the ground as a goal for 2013, Gibson would later play important minutes against Travis Boak in the centre in North’s Round 6 victory over Port Adelaide at Blundstone Arena.

Daniel Wells and Jack Ziebell had interrupted starts to their pre-seasons but in an injury update at the end of the month, Steve Saunders said the duo would play in the NAB Cup.

“We are really happy now that he’s (Wells) doing high-end agility and dynamic work and training with the team, and we are happy with the volume he’s getting done, so he’s tracking well.

“He’s (Ziebell) now three weeks post a little tidy-up of his knee. He’s back running really nicely and will progress into skills and game sense type training next week so we’re happy with his progress and he should be right for the NAB Cup.”

Leigh Adams, another to have a delayed campaign after shoulder surgery was also on track to play in the NAB Cup.

"My shoulders are feeling really good. I've still got a little bit of a way to go before I'm back to [doing] everything, but it's tracking as well as it could be,” he told NMFC.com.au at the time.

"I'll play some sort of role in the NAB Cup. I'm not sure how much I play, but I'll play at some stage. It will be nice to get back into it."

American recruit Eric Wallace, in his first full month at the club, was given his VFL alignment at North Ballarat. Roosters’ coach Gerard FitzGerald stated he put his hand up for the rookie, looking forward to nurturing him in the difficult transition to a new sport.

Meanwhile, Carl Dilena started in his position as the new CEO of North Melbourne after being appointed in late December of 2012.