Much has been said of North’s need to bring in another big defender to curtail the opposition’s power forwards, but the man for the job may already be within the club’s four walls.

On the comeback trail from injury, Robbie Tarrant has been earmarked for a move to defence.

“We think he can go up and down, and hopefully after a strong pre-season that’s where we’ll focus his spot early in the year to see if he can secure that,” Director of Football Geoff Walsh said on Trade Week Radio.

PRESS PLAY above to listen to the Walsh interview

Joe Daniher, Tom Hawkins and Kurt Tippett were among the power forwards to dominate against the Kangaroos during September. With Jarrad Waite now joining an impressive group of forwards, there’s room for Tarrant to switch ends.

The 25-year-old played just one game in 2014, succumbing to a leg injury that hampered his campaign.

Also returning from a long layoff, Cameron Delaney’s availability will be vital to North’s depth.

“Cam had a toe injury which really kept him out for 90 per cent of the year. He hasn’t played a lot of footy over the last two seasons.

“They (Tarrant and Delaney) are two big, strong guys who are capable of playing in key defence and hopefully they give the (Scott) Thompson’s and the (Nathan) Grima’s and the (Lachlan) Hansen’s the opportunity to get a bit of a chop-out.”