Footy 18: Mark Robinson and David King preview North Melbourne’s 2018 season

AFTER missing finals last year, North Melbourne had one top 20 draft pick and brought back a 35-year-old forward. MARK ROBINSON and DAVID KING take an in-depth look at where the club is at.

HAS North Melbourne’s rebuild even started?

That is the big question Herald Sun columnist David King is pondering about the Kangaroos heading into the 2018 season.

After missing finals last year, the Roos brought back 35-year-old Jarrad Waite and have had just two top 20 draft picks in two years.

King said the club was in a similar position to Carlton of a couple of years ago.

“They are at absolute ground zero. This is the absolute start of the rebuild,” King said.

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“It is Carlton-like for me. There are some problems that get wallpapered over. I don’t think their rebuild has even really started.

“They have taken two picks in the top 20 selections in the past two years. To start a rebuild you need to find a way to get into the first round and do what Brisbane has done. Get five picks inside 20.”

WATCH THEIR PREVIEW IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The Kangaroos won six games in 2017 but lost five times by under a goal.

They club tried desperately to secure free agent Dustin Martin from Richmond but came up short.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson believes we are about to find out how good the Roos’ kids are.

Brad Scott has a big job in front of him. Picture: Getty Images

“Some of the kids they have got there, they are OK,” Robbo said.

“How many of them are jumping out of the pack saying, I am going to be a 230-250 game player and become that leader. We don’t know. There are a lot of things about North Melbourne we don’t know.”

The Kangaroos will kick off their 2018 campaign against the Gold Coast Suns before taking on St Kilda, Melbourne and Carlton in the opening month of the season.

Robbo and Kingy preview all things North Melbourne for Footy 18, the Herald Sun’s 116 page footy magazine.

Details for getting your copy can be found below.

WHERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF FOOTY 18

Footy18 is available from Saturday, March 3 onwards — while stocks last at participating newsagents in Victoria and Tasmania.

Cost is $4.95 plus purchase price of that day’s Herald Sun.

You can purchase Footy 18 simply by purchasing the newspaper at participating newsagent — PLUS for home delivery customers and customers who choose to purchase their magazine at a different outlet to where they purchase their paper, a token will also be printed in paper on Saturday March 3, Sunday March 4 and Monday March 5 to be used as proof of purchase.

Footy18 can also be purchased by calling the Herald Sun Shop on 1300 306 107 or online at heraldsun.com.au/shop