North Melbourne has added five former AFL-listed players to its VFL side for the 2023 season.
Ben Davis, Nick Stevens, Louis Butler, Connor Downie and Jarrod Lienert will all be donning the blue and white stripes, with Lienert taking on a player/coach role to assist VFL senior coach Tom Lynch.
Lienert joins from the Saints and is set to work with the backline throughout 2023, while also assisting with the AFL program. The former St Kilda and Port Adelaide defender played 34 AFL games after being taken in the 2017 Rookie Draft and will now help lead North Melbourne's VFL team as it looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2022.
After being drafted in 2016 by the Crows, Ben Davis went on to play 11 games for Adelaide over six years, displaying his speed and prowess in both defence and attack throughout his time in the seniors and reserves.
Davis will reunite with a familiar face at Arden Street, with former Adelaide teammate Lynch taking on the senior coaching duties this year.
Nick Stevens, who was taken with the 47th pick in the 2020 AFL Draft by Geelong, stands at 192cm with the ability to play a multitude of positions.
The youngster is a classy distributor of the football and impresses with his pace.
Louis Butler joins North after spending three years on the Western Bulldogs' list.
Butler managed four AFL appearances as a rebounding defender during his time at the Dogs and regularly showcased his unwavering attack on the contest as a hard-working utility in the reserves.
Former Hawk and 21-year-old Connor Downie is another youngster that has made his way to Arden Street. The 35th selection in the 2020 AFL Draft, who North Melbourne originally placed a bid on, collected 12 disposals in his first on-field appearance and departed Waverly Park at the end of 2022 with two matches to his name.
With his penetrating kick and footballing smarts as an outside midfielder, Downie can launch attacks from beyond the arc and convert chances around goals.
The Roos' full list will be finalised ahead of the season which will commence on the weekend of March 25-26.
