North Melbourne’s recruitment of five AFL-experienced players was part of a plan in the works, even before 2020, List Manager Glenn Luff says. 

Luff and his fellow recruiters had been keeping a close eye on potential recruits from other clubs, with one key focus in mind - speed. 

Aidan Corr didn’t officially become a Kangaroo until the end of October, but in truth, he’d been in North’s sights for a long time prior. 

Luff and head of player personnel Scott Clayton had been watching vision of the defender, way back in December of 2019. 

Then, they got a closer look during the Marsh Series in Blacktown. 

“I went up to watch a few of the guys – but Corr was the one I really wanted to look at live,” Luff revealed in The Herald Sun. 

“What stood out to me was his speed, but also the way he organized the back half – which you can’t get off vision.

“He looks like a real leader for the back half of the ground. He’ll be great for Ben McKay and to complement Robbie Tarrant.”

At 26, Corr still has plenty of years left in the system, as does fellow defender Lachie Young, another target who came to fruition during the exchange period. 

“We were on to Lachie Young really early,” Luff said. 

“But it was more about his attributes (than position).

“Clearly he’s an elite runner and we really like his kick and his size. He’s hit the ground running in his first couple of weeks at the club.”

Jaidyn Stephenson’s recruitment has been widely praised, but Atu Bosenavulagi was also on the Roos’ radar “a long way out”, while Connor Menadue’s speed appealed.

“We saw Connor in a Werribee VFL practice match,” Luff said.

“Scotty and Mark Finnigan came back from that and said, ‘This guy’s too good to not be on an AFL list’.

“He was probably a bit stiff not to land somewhere at the end of 2019.”

In all, North landed five players with previous AFL experience, while adding six youngsters via the NAB AFL Draft and rookie drafts. 

The club now boasts 24 players on its list who are 22 or younger.