ARRIVALS: Ben Brown, Nick Dal Santo, Trent Dumont, Luke McDonald, Robin Nahas, Joel Tippett, Kane Turner
DEPARTURES: Luke Delaney, Jordan Gysberts, Ayden Kennedy, Ben Mabon, Cameron Richardson, Will Sierakowski, Ben Speight
BEST 22
MEDICAL ROOM
Check out the AFL's injury list
PASS MARK FOR 2014: Although a finals appearance will probably keep the critics at bay, North should be aiming a little higher. A top-six finish and their first finals win since 2007 would be a good springboard for the Roos to target bigger things from 2015.
NEEDS A BIG YEAR: Kieran Harper. Had had the third-year blues in 2013 with injury and form limiting him to three games. But the forward/midfielder is a prodigious talent and just the player the Roos need to step up to take the outside load off Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells.
FIRST FIVE GAMES: Essendon (ES), Western Bulldogs (ES), Port Adelaide (ES), Sydney Swans (SCG), Collingwood (MCG)
Click here to see North Melbourne's entire 2014 fixture
PLAY TWICE: Geelong, Adelaide, Brisbane Lions, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne
TOUGHEST RUN: After a relatively friendly early fixture, the Roos face a month that could shape their season. Starting from round 10, they have away fixtures against Geelong and West Coast, a clash against growing rival Richmond (albeit at their Etihad Stadium stronghold) and another away game against Adelaide.
DREAM SCENARIO: If the Roos can add defensive intent and composure under pressure to their renowned scoring power, there's no reason why they can't finish in the top-four.
WORST NIGHTMARE: North does not heed the lessons of 2013 and again blows its finals chances with a string of close losses, calling into question whether its post-2008 generation will ever take over the baton from Harvey, Petrie, Wells and co.
PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: 8/10. Brad Scott enters 2014 knowing that after years of patiently nurturing North's next generation now is the time to deliver. The Roos coach is contracted to the end of 2016, but anything short of a top-eight finish this year will put him under the pump.
