WITH the 2021 AFL Draft done and dusted, Rookie Me Central takes a look through each clubs’ hauls to assess the areas they bolstered and what each fresh face promises to bring to their new side. Next under the microscope is North Melbourne, who wielded pick one and swept up a versatile bunch of prospects thereafter.

National Draft selections:

#1 Jason Horne-Francis (South Adelaide/South Australia)
#22 Josh Goater (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
#35 Paul Curtis (Western Jets/Vic Metro)
#38 Miller Bergman (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
#59 Jackson Archer (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)

Rookie Draft selections:

#1 Jared Polec (re-listed)

Having bolstered the middle of park across multiple intakes, North Melbourne secured another elite midfielder via pick one and stuck to its guns with Jason Horne-Francis. The South Australian teen is readymade having played two seasons of senior football, promising to inject two-way work rate, toughness, and scoreboard impact to North’s exciting young engine room. He may ease in off a forward flank, though.

After the almost inevitable selection of Horne-Francis, the Roos nabbed a handy slider early in round two in lifelong fan, Josh Goater. The Calder Cannons product courted first round interest and will likely be used as a rebound defender, but has scope to play on both sides of midfield with his athletic upside, once he builds his endurance base.

Paul Curtis was the next cab off the rank, snapped up at pick 35 with others lurking for the small forward. His ability to kick goals in match-turning spurts will excite Roos fans, and he has plenty of room for development having matured on and off the field in 2021.

After nabbing a specialist, North went for versatility again with Miller Bergman, three picks later. While still quite light, the utility out of Dandenong Stingrays has plenty of potential with his overhead marking ability and wicked kicking skills.

Roos fans would also have been buoyed by Jackson Archer‘s selection as a father-son, with the feisty lockdown defender one who should bring good character to the group, among the flair of North’s 2021 crop. Rounding out the Roos’ efforts was the re-listing of Jared Polec as a rookie.