Coach: Darren Crocker
2020 captain: Emma Kearney
2020 best and fairest: Jasmine Garner
2020 in a nutshell: Nearly everything went right for North Melbourne, aside from the cancellation of the season after it had qualified for a preliminary final following a nail-biting win over Collingwood. The Roos finished top of Conference A, only dropping a round-one game to Melbourne by two points, and had four players named in the All-Australian squad.
New players: Bella Eddey, Alice O'Loughlin, Brooke Brown, Georgia Hammond, Amy Smith (draft), Grace Campbell (Richmond)
Notable departures: Jess Trend (Fremantle), Abbey Green (Collingwood), Emma Humphries, Libby and Chloe Haines (delisted)
Inactive players: Nil
2021 opponents: Geelong (a), St Kilda (h), Fremantle (a), Carlton (a), Richmond (h), Western Bulldogs (a), Melbourne (h), West Coast (h), Gold Coast (a)
Circle it: Rounds three and four will be crucial tests for North Melbourne, coming up against fellow heavyweight sides Fremantle and Carlton. To take away at least one win from the fortnight will be a big tick for their flag aspirations.
Player to watch: The Roos will be boosted by the return of All-Australian defender Jess Duffin, after she took the 2020 season off due to pregnancy. A composed player with excellent skills and intercepting ability, she'll slot in nicely to an already strong backline.
Best Rising Star chance: Bella Eddey
2021 prediction: With minimal changes to their best 21 over the off-season, expect the Roos to once again go deep into finals. Players have been full of praise for new coach Darren Crocker, and the Kangaroos simply bat too deep for most teams to contain them, particularly in the midfield. Throw in two of the competition's best players in Jasmine Garner and Emma Kearney and it's difficult to see the Roos not finishing in the top three.
