North Melbourne coach David Noble has identified the areas the club will aim to bolster in the upcoming trade period.
The Kangaroos have improved as the 2021 season has progressed, winning three of their last five and edging closer to climbing off the bottom of the ladder as a result.
In a bid to continue improving, Noble says the Roos will seek support for Nick Larkey up forward, as has been reported this week, and will also look at strengthening their small forward stocks.
“I think another partner for him (Larkey), and another small forward,” he said on Sportsday.
“We’ve got some really good talent and speed in there, but another little robust forward in through there.”
Noble also recognises a need to add quality to the half-back position in a bid to ease the pressure on Aaron Hall, but ultimately has improvement in the forward line at front of mind.
“Maybe even looking a little bit further for some more support for ‘Hally’ off half-back,” he added.
“We’ve had a couple of young guys like Flynn Perez who unfortunately did a knee. We haven’t been able to get up and running, ‘Corry’ (Aidan Corr) hasn’t played through there.
“I think they’re probably the areas of where we are looking. Luke McDonald has done a really good job on the wing. Tom Powell can roll through there as well.
“We’ve got most areas covered, but I think forward line is certainly one that we need to give consideration to in the next year or two.”
In the meantime, the Roos will look to get number one ruckman Todd Goldstein forward more regularly in the final four weeks of the season as they continue to develop youngster Tristan Xerri.
“That second ruck suits us,” Noble said.
“We’re trying to bring ‘X’ (Xerri) through to give him more forward time and then ‘Goldy’ (Goldstein) a little bit more in the ruck.
“In the last few games we might try to push Goldy forward a little bit more because we do think he’s got capacity to kick goals.”
North will look to follow up last weekend’s 39-point win over Carlton when they take on second-placed Geelong in Hobart on Saturday.
The Roos still occupy 18th position, but sit on 18 points alongside Hawthorn with four matches to go in 2021.