With the number one selection in the 2021 mid-season draft all but locked up, North Melbourne has its pick of this batch of AFL hopefuls.

Over 600 players have nominated for the draft, from recognisable former AFL names like Tyson Stengle and Mitch Hibberd, to young hopefuls who missed out on selection in last year’s national draft.

Jacob Edwards is one of the latter, with the 202-centimetre ruck/forward missing out on selection last year, but showing outstanding improvement this year.

North Melbourne head of player personnel Scott Clayton says Edwards is one of a number of players North is looking at using its first selection on.

“We certainly think he’s (Edwards) a very exciting prospect. He’s a very high-quality young man from a very high-quality family,” Clayton told the Road to the Draft podcast.

“He had a huge growth spurt … the fact he’s disciplined enough to train and grow and develop, and all of a sudden he’s gone from not key-position size to a forward/ruck, so that’s very exciting.

“He would be a very high-quality candidate in a national draft, so for him to be available in the mid-season draft is fortunate.”

Edwards is among a host of Victorian-based players who were robbed of the chance to showcase their abilities due to the cancellation of last year’s Victorian season.

Playing for Sandringham Dragons while completing his year 12 studies this year, Edwards has impressed AFL scouts with his foot skills and goal nous so far this season.

Clayton says the impact the Covid-affected season had on Edwards and players like him cannot be understated.

“It’s respectful to point out that some Victorians have started slowly given they’ve had 12 months off,” he said.

“They’re slowly getting condition to that level so it’s fortunate that’s the case.”

While Edwards may be the consensus number one pick in the forthcoming draft, North also has the 13 pick.

Clayton says the club is exploring all potential selections for both picks, not just its first.

“He’s (Edwards) certainly hungry to be good and he’s determined to be the best player he can, so all those things can lead to him having a great career,” he said.

“We’re certainly thorough in our preparation and have planned around doing the work on that, so we’ve got a busy few days ahead.”