Team preview: North Melbourne

Old heads ... the veterans must perform for the Kangas to rise. Source: Jerad Williams / News Limited

The AFL season begins on Friday. We get you ready for the opening bounce by taking a look at all the teams and their prospects for 2013.

KANGAS NEED TO REBOUND

You get the sense something is going to give at North Melbourne. The past three years they've been on the edge. Floating around in that area of uncertainty of whether they're any good or not.

Last year they showed a lot of positives and deservedly featured in September. The problem was that appearance was a shocker. All the goodness was sapped out of the Roos by West Coast who whacked them by 96 points in the elimination final.

The challenge now is to save face, pick themselves up and prove they're legitimate given the chasing pack for the bottom couple of spots in the eight is getting larger. What we do know is that North have some seriously exciting young talent and importantly they're reaching the experience level where they can start to impact games.

Eleven Roos have played between 36 and 62 games. Some of those are already serious players including Jack Ziebell, Ryan Bastinac and Shaun Atley. Midfield depth is the key to a good finals team and North is accumulating that now with some elite cream on the top in the form of skipper Andrew Swallow and the dynamic Daniel Wells. There is enough to like about the rest which suggests North are most likely to learn and prosper rather than fall apart from the events of last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

BEN CUNNINGTON
Being a No.5 pick in the draft brings great expectation. So far Cunnington has failed to live up to any of it. Coming into his fourth year and with 54 games to his name, the time is now for the midfielder. Others have gone past him in the pecking order but his in-and-under style - which is reminiscent of Roos great Anthony Stevens - is a crucial part of the Roos structure. Has reportedly starred over the summer.

MAJAK DAW
The Roos need excitement. As a team and a club at the minute, they're more run-of-the-mill than must-see. Daw brings a lot to the table and while he may still be a fair way off being the complete package, he should be given a chance early in the season. His highlight reel from the VFL is off-the-charts and hopefully he's ready to bring that to the big time.

SHAUN ATLEY
Has rocketed into the top five players at the club and yet he's only 20 years of age. Atley's pace and creativity from half-back was the highlight of the Roos second half to last season. The kid has serious jets and played every game last year which has fast-tracked his development and put him into the star in the making category.

ROBBIE TARRANT
Looks like his older brother and has the guns to match. While Chris has now retired, Robbie appears ready to uphold the family tradition by stepping up to be an important cog in North's forward structure. He appears to have finally got over his horror injury run and has trained the house down over summer. Fits in nicely alongside Drew Petrie and Lachie Hansen.

JACK ZIEBELL
North fans are craving for the midfield jet to string a consistent season together. Injuries and suspension have been problems in the past but they know that if Ziebell can stay on the park the team will win a lot more games. Brings a crucial element to the midfield mix with his size, class and brute strength.

Scott Gullan's forecast: 7th-8th.

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