Jay Clark looks at the 15 steps that helped North Melbourne fast-track its rebuild

MOST football experts had North Melbourne odds on to take out this year’s wooden spoon. How have the Kangaroos turned themselves into a finals quality side? JAY CLARK goes inside the 15 step rebuild.

NORTH Melbourne can jump back into the top-eight with a win over Collingwood on Saturday.

Not bad for a club widely tipped to take out this year’s wooden spoon. How has the club fast-tracked its rebuild at a time when others are taking an eternity to rise up the ladder?

JAY CLARK has identified the 15 steps towards a Kangaroos’ recovery.

TIPS: SEE WHO OUR EXPERTS ARE TIPPING IN ROUND 18

TEAMS: SEE ALL THE ROUND 18 INS AND OUTS HERE

FORMGUIDE: HOW TO HANDLE SUPERCOACH CRISIS

1. MOVING DAY

It was a genius move in hindsight. Yes, Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito had a sliver of good footy left in them, but North knew it had to cut, and cut hard, to get a jump-start on its rebuild. Moving on these four favourite sons, plus Daniel Wells, helped empower a new set of leaders and gave more opportunity to youngsters such as Jy Simpkin. Seemed brutal at the time but it was the right call.

2. COACH DEAL

The senior coach is in the best form of his nine-year career. Gold Coast put in a phone call (and to his twin brother Chris) last year to test the waters, but North would be ecstatic Scott re-signed. The kids are impressing, positional moves have worked and the senior playing core are engaged. Is he coach of the year? With nine wins so far, you could argue Scott has worked half a miracle keeping the Roos squarely in the finals hunt.

The Roos backed Brad Scott at the end of last season. Picture: AAP Images

3. MINING FREE AGENCY

We bang on a lot about North Melbourne missing out on some key recruiting targets such as Dustin Martin and Isaac Heeney in recent years. But, to be fair, North has done better than most clubs in the free agency space. Shaun Higgins is one of the greatest FA pick-ups, Jarrad Waite started the year on fire and Nick Dal Santo finished sixth (2014) and seventh (2015) in the best and fairest.

4. BEN BROWN

It is proof one draft pick can help change a football club’s outlook. A few clubs were into Ben Brown in 2013, hoping he would slip through to the rookie draft. But North hit the jackpot when it parted with pick No. 47 in the national draft for the Werribee goal kicker. Now a franchise star, Brown leads this year’s Coleman Medal race with 50 majors, eight ahead of Lance Franklin. Booted 63 snags last year.

WIN GRAND FINAL TICKETS BY COMPLETING THE FOOTY FANS SURVEY

5. TASMANIA

North has established a genuine home ground advantage in Hobart, winning 12 of its past 14 games down there. Some of the biggest scalps include grand finalists Richmond and Adelaide last year by a combined margin of 129 points. The deal helps generate vital funds and, importantly, expands the fan base.

6. EXTENSIONS

Hawthorn and Brisbane are among the clubs which have huge cracks at landing prized key back Robbie Tarrant. But the All-Australian contender has twice resisted the temptation to join another premiership heavyweight, re-signing this year and in 2015. Tarrant won the best and fairest in 2016 and is arguably North’s most important player. Fellow leaders Jack Ziebell, Shaun Higgins and Jamie Macmillan all inked long-term extensions.

7. DRAFT BARGAINS

Between 2010-17, North Melbourne had just one top-10 draft pick, which was used on father-son defender Luke McDonald. History might suggest North paid over for the tough back pocket, but elsewhere they have landed some late bargains including more recently Paul Ahern (for pick No. 65), former Magpie Marley Williams (No. 105) and Braydon Preuss (rookie).

Paul Ahern has been worth the wait for the Roos. Picture: Getty Images

8. KEEPING FAITH

North fans would have been forgiven for wanting to trade Todd Goldstein, Majak Daw and Jed Anderson last year. But the club held its nerve and haven’t the trio repaid the faith. Since Round 9, Goldstein has rediscovered vintage form averaging 119 ranking points a game, ranked sixth in the league. Likewise, Anderson ranks third for clearances and seventh for disposals at North amid a make-or-break year. Daw has sparkled in defence and played perhaps the best game of his career last weekend in attack.

9. WAR CHEST

There is a pot of gold waiting for a top-line midfielder to join North and it seems like it has Josh Kelly’s name written all over it at the end of next season. North’s recruiting campaign has been aggressive and targeted, and although the Roos missed Dusty and Co, North has front-ended payments to give it the scope to jag a big fish or two.

10. MIDFIELD MOVES

Captain Jack Ziebell has had one of the best seasons of his career being recast as a forward and the midfield has grown legs in his absence. Collectively, the Roos ranked last for clearances in 2017 (-3.4 per game), but have surged to ninth this year (+0.4). In attack, Ziebell has fired, slotting 24 majors from 16 games.

11. STAND ALONE VFL

Some clubs have had it for years, but North finally got its own standalone VFL team this year. It means the reserves play exactly the same way as the senior team, allowing players to seamlessly swap between the two. There is total consistency in the game plan and playing instructions.

12. GOLDEN OLDIES

Experienced players are seen to be more valuable than ever in club land. Look at the impact of Luke Hodge at Brisbane and Gold Coast’s pursuit of Swan Jarrad McVeigh. At Arden St, ageless defender Scott Thompson, 32, is held in the highest regard by teammates, and is this year on track for another top-10 finish in the best and fairest. Jarrad Waite was also red-hot early, bagging 22 goals.

13. THE TAG

It’s been a remarkable transformation for Ben Jacobs. The former injury-prone ball-winner has become the league’s top tagger. This year he has helped nullify superstars Dustin Martin, Robbie Gray, Clayton Oliver, Tom Mitchell and Patrick Cripps. Currently out with a concussion problem.

Ben Jacobs is having a brilliant year for the Roos. Picture: Michael Klein

14. IDENTITY

What does your club stand for? It’s a question which has been trotted out with increasing regularity in the past two years. For North Melbourne, Brad Scott has re-established the meaning and importance of the ‘Shinboner’ moniker. It sums up the club’s desire to play brave, strong, uncompromising football. The Shinboner of the week is an internal award given to the player who best exemplifies these traits.

15. PERSISTENCE AND STABILITY

This is a big one for the coaching group a reason why there has been minimal turnover in the box. Key lieutenants Darren Crocker and Leigh Tudor have been mainstays, alongside (development guru) Gavin Brown who left Carlton for the Kangas in 2013.

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >