North Melbourne is entering its fifth season in the AFLW, and after reaching finals in the past three seasons, with plenty of potentials, the side remains contenders, wanting to go that extra step in Season Seven.

Recap

North Melbourne has been teetering on the edge of going deeper into the finals series for quite some time since entering the competition in Season Three. The club has the capacity to reach the final day of the season, though, at the same time, it's evident to see where the club sits compared to those teams above them that have more finals experience.

During the off-season, the Kangaroos lost some integral first-choice players, which has hindered the experienced talent on their playing list. However, the club has recruited and drafted well, though it may take some time to cover the loss around the ground. Grace Campbell also succumbed to an ACL injury in the pre-season, ruling the contested ball-winner - who averaged an equal-fourth team-best 3.8 tackles in Season Six - out for Season Seven.

In the club's pre-season hitout, North Melbourne met reigning premiers Adelaide at West Lakes and came away with a two-point victory. The Kangaroos were able to convert on the scoreboard - despite three fewer scoring shots -as Jasmine Garner picked up where she left off, while new players showcased what they could bring to the side across all areas of the ground.

How they did last year

4th (seven wins, three losses)

North Melbourne made finals for the third time in as many years last season, though they were bundled out in the first week at the hands of a 38-point loss to Fremantle - the side's biggest losing margin of the year - at Arden St Oval - which marked the team's first loss at the venue.

The Kangaroo's three losses during the regular season were all against teams above them on the ladder - eventual premiers Adelaide, eventual runners-up Melbourne, and Brisbane - though they enjoyed a five-game stretch of wins from Round 3 to Round 7, which included victories against fellow finals sides Fremantle and Collingwood.

In Season Six, North Melbourne was a major ball-winning side, averaging a league-best 240 disposals per game and a league-best 52.2 marks per game. Ashleigh Riddell - the Kangaroos' best and fairest winner - was a big part of the side's accumulating disposal count, averaging 29.3 disposals per game, with Garner (20.9 disposals) rounding out the top 10 - as well as kicking a team-high 11 goals.

How they can improve

North Melbourne has been a side that has performed well but been unable to take that next step; therefore, learning from its losses across last season, and throughout the years, in general, could help the side do so. The Kangaroos have never beaten the Lions or Crows and have beaten the Demons just once in their head-to-head match-ups - a four-point win in Season Three.

Having some bonafide talent at either end of the ground will ease the pressure off of a midfield unit who have been shown to and required to do it all at times will be beneficial, keeping the focus on their own duties while having faith that players at either end of the ground can also hold up their own and help the team move forward.

List changes

Ins: Vikki Wall (Ireland), Erika O'Shea (Ireland), Hannah Bowey (Collingwood VFLW - injury replacement), Taylah Gatt (Dandenong Stingrays), Sophia McCarthy (Williamstown VFLW), Charli Granville (Eastern Ranges), Grace Matser (Collingwood VFLW), Cassidy Mailer (Murray Bushrangers)

Outs: Kaitlyn Ashmore (Hawthorn), Daria Bannister (Essendon), Daisy Bateman (Western Bulldogs), Jessica Duffin (Hawthorn), Aileen Gilroy (Hawthorn), Lexi Hamilton (Sydney), Tara Slender (retired), Britt Gibson (delisted), Elisha King (delisted)

Inactive: Grace Campbell (ACL injury)

Biggest strength

North Melbourne has shown in previous seasons and the lead-up to Season Seven that its players can provide some relief in other parts of the ground and be versatile to cover any gaps in the field where and when it might be required - and still win plenty of the ball - especially midfielders who can roam to every part of the ground.

While North Melbourne, in Season Six, wasn't a side that went inside 50 too often, when its midfield - especially Riddell - did get hold of the ball, the side was efficient to get scores on the board and with draftees such as Gatt, McCarthy, and Granville who can slot into the forward line, aside Garner, Tahlia Randall, and Tess Craven, more scores will likely be generated in Season Seven.

At the other end, the Kangaroos have shown their defensive structure holds up, giving up the second-lowest total score in Season Six (249 points). Still, it's again the midfield who provide plenty of assistance, with Kearney (7.2 intercept possessions) leading the charge ahead of the outgoing Gilroy (5.7) and Sarah Wright (5.2) from Season Six.

Biggest weakness

The loss of experienced stars to expansion sides will hurt the Kangaroos, with 2020 club-leading goalkicker Ashmore and 2019 All-Australian Duffin leading the list of the team's most significant departures, along with Bannister, Bateman, Gilroy, and Hamilton - the former four players each playing important roles in last season's Elimination Final.

Without an influx of AFLW-experienced players on their list for Season Seven, the Kangaroos will feel the losses of the above players, especially their experience in playing at the top level. Meanwhile, many additions to their squad have come from the VFLW, a big difference which could be felt by many running out for an AFLW match for the first time in Season Seven, should they break into the side.

The side will be tested regarding the off-season departures and their impact. The Kangaroos need to come together early to beat the other challengers for the flag and remain in a position towards the top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away season.

Rising star

Midfielder Tess Craven had an interrupted Season Six after a pre-season foot injury limited her time in the team, although she made her AFLW debut in Round 1 against Geelong, where she racked up three disposals; however, she wasn't seen for the rest of the season.

The 18-year-old has the potential and talent to become one of North Melbourne's premier ball winners this season, as her form in the NAB League with the Geelong Falcons - 21.1 disposals, 4.4 marks, 3.9 tackles -, and U18 Championships for Vic Country - 20.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 5.0 tackles - across 2021 shows.

Though Craven was drafted as a midfielder, throughout the 2022 VFLW season, coach Stephanie Binder played her in more of a forward role. Craven played seven games across the VFLW season, averaging 16.9 disposals, 2.4 marks, 2.4 tackles, and kicking 3.3.

It's a positional move that AFLW coach Darren Crocker has noticed, too, with Craven working her way forward in the club's pre-season fixtures ahead of the upcoming season, noting a half-forward role may be Craven's spot in Season Seven.

Prediction for season 7

North Melbourne may be tested in the early stages of Season Seven as the club accounts for the loss of talent. However, they will be excited at the prospect of new faces in the team to pull the side forward and contest against the best in the competition.

The Kangaroos would understand their placing within the league and against other teams. However, the test will be staying among that bracket but going further and beating the primed premiership contenders and will have faith in doing so after the victorious pre-season meeting with the Crows.

Predicted ladder position: 5th

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