While the result didn’t go North Melbourne’s way on Saturday afternoon, the coaches and fans should be encouraged by the ball winning capabilities of some of the club’s newer and younger faces.

In recent years the likes of Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins and Jed Anderson have dominated the possession count, however already this year, a different group might emerge.

Against the Saints, the top ball winners were North players, many of which should help push the Roos into the top eight.

Veteran defender Jamie Macmillan was the game’s leading ball winner, collecting a career-high 40 disposals off half-back.

The 27-year-old had 11 disposals in the first half, breaking lines and attacking from defence.

Of the younger brigade, Luke Davies-Uniacke showed his potential, displaying the elite attributes that had recruiters touting him as a potential No.1 pick in the 2017 draft.

Earning 27 disposals, Davies-Uniacke was given valuable midfield minutes playing alongside Shaun Higgins and Dom Tyson 

The 19-year-old also laid 4 tackles and won 4 clearances, as well as generating 6 inside 50’s.

Wingman Trent Dumont was also a standout, featuring in the midfield at times, and adding to that midfield depth and ending the day with 26 disposals.

After a break-out 2018 season, Paul Ahern appears to have picked-up from where he left off, earning 26 disposals.

The midfielder filled the void left by Ben Cunnington, winning seven clearances, and remained a threat offensively, creating 11 inside 50’s.

Much of the attention coming into the match was seeing how the five new recruits would perform.

Aaron Hall played little due to injury, Tom Campbell and Jasper Pittard were solid, while Jared Polec and Dom Tyson were the pick of the bunch.

Polec, renowned for his impressive left foot, displayed his efficient kicking, electing to take on the aggressive kick and hitting the target more often than not.

Racking up 27 disposals, he had 18 kicks; double the amount of disposals he had by hand.

Tyson starred in his first outing in the royal blue and white stripes, collecting 26 disposals, 6 clearances and 7 tackles.

Tyson partnered with Ahern to become the side’s key extractors, winning the contested ball while also impacting the game on the outside.