THE STRONG youth-based foundation North Melbourne is building has been reinforced with 2010 draftees Cameron Delaney and Ben Mabon re-signing with the club.

Defender Delaney, who has played five AFL games after making his debut in round two this year against Greater Western Sydney, has re-signed for another three seasons, while ruckman Mabon, who is yet to debut, will remain a Roo for at least another season.

Delaney has a mix of height (194cm), pace and agility that North believes will give him the flexibility to play on talls and smalls in future seasons.

Delaney, the younger brother of North key defender Luke, has bolstered North's belief with his consistently strong performances in the VFL with North Ballarat over the past two years and the promise he's shown at AFL level.

The 20-year-old told AFL.com.au the remarkable versatility of current North defenders Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima was the standard its developing backmen aspired to.

"North look for our young developing players to have the same versatility as the current players, to be able to play small or big," Delaney said.

Delaney, whose most recent AFL game was North's 115-point loss to Hawthorn in round 10, said he needed to add bulk and strength to his 86kg frame before he could take on opposition power forwards.

"In the coming years when we've still got a few key-position players, hopefully my agility and ability to play on smalls and third talls will help me keep a spot in defence," Dalaney said.

While Delaney has progressed steadily in his two years at Aegis Park, Mabon's 2011 season was ruined by a back injury that limited him to a handful of VFL reserves games.

However, Mabon has made up for lost time this year, making the Roosters' No.1 ruck position his own in the wake of Orren Stephenson's departure to Geelong.

Mabon, 200cm, told AFL.com.au he was mentally ready to make his AFL debut but first needed to build bulk and strength in the gym.

Mabon also admitted he faced a tough task to break into North's team when the Roos' list boasted elite ruckmen like Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh.

But he said working with the experienced ruck duo regularly could only fast-track his development.

"Hamish is a ball magnet and tells me where to run when I go through the vision of my games with him every week, and on the track 'Goldy' is an elite runner and a genuinely good tap ruckman," Mabon said.

"It's fantastic to learn off both of them and I'm try to take as much in as I can."

But, for now, Delaney and Mabon are just excited they'll continue to be part of North's emerging young team beyond this season.

"Everyone's on the same page and we all know what we want and that's another premiership for the North Melbourne footy club," Mabon says.

Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick