Terry Wallace has pinpointed three North Melbourne midfielders who must “make the jump” if the Kangaroos are to better last season’s 12th-place finish.
If Paul Ahern, Aiden Bonar and Luke Davies-Uniacke can go to new levels in 2020, Wallace believes that can help fast track North Melbourne’s development as a side.
Bonar, formally of GWS, is about to embark on his first season at Arden Street, while Ahern and Davies-Uniacke - both former first-round draft picks - have played 18 and 21 games respectively.
“To me, the guys that are really important for them (North Melbourne) to make another step forward are: (Paul) Ahern, (Aiden) Bonar, who has just arrived at the club, we’ve got to give him a little bit of time, and Luke Davies-Uniacke,” Wallace told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“If you look at those three blokes, all big-bodied midfielders with a touch of class who were all star Under-18 players who we don’t know yet whether they are going to make the jump to become regular senior players, good regular senior players or great regular senior players.
“If two of the three can become between good and great senior players, how much difference does that look to the development of the side.
“I’m going to be watching them with real interest to see if anyone of them can come on and really make some ground.”
North Melbourne take on Sydney in their next Marsh Community Series match on March 9 ahead of their Round 1 clash against St Kilda.
Listen to Terry Wallace’s chat on SEN’s Dwayne’s World in the player below
