NORTH Melbourne is not trying to use free agency as a shortcut to the club's fifth premiership, coach Brad Scott says.
Scott was speaking at North's best and fairest count on Friday night, with the Roos having secured Carlton spearhead Jarrad Waite and Western Bulldog utility Shaun Higgins as free agents earlier that day.
The Roos signed Waite, who will turn 32 in February, to a two-year deal and Higgins, 27 in March, to a three-year deal with a trigger clause for a fourth season.
North also snared Nick Dal Santo, then 29, on a three-year deal in last year's free agency period.
Scott told the North faithful on Friday night that commentators might view North's free agency acquisitions as proof the Roos were topping up for a short-term tilt at a flag.
But the Roos coach said North's focus was firmly on building sustainable on-field success, not chasing short-term fixes.
"We're going to hear a fair bit over the next couple of days that North are priming for a tilt at the premiership. ‘North think they're in a premiership window, North are going to recruit players who they think can just top them off to take that one step further’," Scott said.
"But I don't want any of our supporters to be any under illusions that we're simply topping up our playing list.
"You don't top up and you don't prepare for the short-term when you take your first three draft picks eight years in a row.
"So anyone who says we're building for the short-term is gravely mistaken. We're building for sustainable success - we want this football club to be up the top for a long time.
"Most importantly, when I'm gone and (football director) Geoff Walsh is gone and this playing group is gone, it is so important that this football club is in an unbelievably strong position, and we will never take our eye off that goal for short-term success.
"The long-term future of this football club will always be first and foremost in our mind."
Out-of-contract North midfielder Levi Greenwood finished third in Friday night's Syd Barker Medal count, just one vote behind winner Ben Cunnington and equal with runner-up Todd Goldstein.
Greenwood was given a thunderous round of applause when he came on stage, having turned his career around in 2014.
The midfielder played just 11 games in 2012 and 2013, but bounced back this year to average 25 possessions in 22 games.
The 25-year-old has been unable to reach a new deal with North despite prolonged contract negotiations and rival clubs Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond are circling ahead of the start of NAB AFL Trade Period on Monday.
Greenwood did not address his future during the medal count, but was glowing in his praise for his teammates and the Roos' staff.
"There have been a couple of lean years and I didn't think I'd be up here tonight after starting this year in the seconds," Greenwood said.
"So I'd like to thank my teammates for being ultra-supportive over the last few years. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of blokes to run out there with every day.
"To everyone who makes the football club happen every day, and who goes unnoticed throughout the year, I'd like to thank you.
"You don't get the accolades that you deserve."
Earlier on Friday night, Greenwood was awarded the McCartney Jumper Award, voted for by North's players, and the Blackwoods Supporters' Player of the Year award.
