While the second round of Thursday night's 2025 Telstra AFL Draft was still unfolding, Alastair Clarkson had coaching on his mind.

So impressed was North Melbourne's senior coach by what he had seen of the Kangaroos' No.26 selection Blake Thredgold, he decided to fly to Adelaide to meet the young defender in person.

"As soon as we got into the draft (on Thursday night), Clarko said, 'I think I might go over and take him out for brekkie in the morning'," national recruiting and retention manager Will Thursfield told NMFC Media.

"He was that bullish on what he'd seen."

True to his word, Clarkson went straight from the draft to the airport and boarded the day's last flight to Adelaide.

Getting to know his new senior coach over breakfast at a local cafe on Friday morning was "awesome", Thredgold told NMFC Media.

"He was so welcoming and easy to talk to. I didn't feel nervous at all.

"I feel so grateful to have him as my coach. I can't wait to get to the club and start work with him."

Thredgold joins Lachy Dovaston and Hugo Mikunda as the Kangaroos' draft class of 2025, after the pair were selected with picks No.16 and 48 respectively.

Thursfield said the Roos were delighted to have been able to trade with Carlton to move up into the draft's first round to grab Dovaston.

"It was a big result for the club. It put us in that bracket to get a top player, so we were rapt with that.

"The other aim was to get a good mix of players, so I think you've seen that with the three boys we brought in. They're all pretty different, and will all add something a little bit different to the group.

"(Dovaston) is a character, as you've seen. Not only is he a small forward, he can actually get up the high part of the ground and really accumulate possession. 

"He's a very good runner, he plays with great energy, brings others into the game and applies pressure. I think he can be a pretty versatile player who can not only play deep, but also get up the ground and challenge. 

Thredgold impressed more and more as a tall defender as his draft year went on, Thursfield said. 

"He is a terrific athlete. He's got elite speed and vertical leap, super long arms. You will have seen in his highlights that he can really jump and mark it, but he can defend a player as well.

"He sort of sealed (his selection) in the (SANFL) under-18s grand final where he blanketed another good player in Mitch Marsh and won the best-on-ground medal."

Mikunda, who fills the club's last available list spot for 2026, shows promise as a player who can link between forward and back, Thursfield said. 

"He's got some really swift movement, strong hips, great leg speed, good balance. He had some injuries at the start of this year and probably was a bit slow to get going, but once he came back, he really showed what he can do."

With 10 first-round selections now at the club from the past four drafts, Thursfield said it was exciting to watch the young crop preparing to drive the Kangaroos forward. 

"It's setting the club up for some sustained success.

"Even just watching training the last few weeks, all these young guns that we brought in are starting to mature. They're starting to get stronger, they're fitter, and you can really see that they're wanting to take this club forward.  

"Adding another three to that group that we've invested pretty heavily in, I think we will set this club up for a long time. 

"There's a real buzz around the place."