North Melbourne has selected Sandringham Dragons utility Ollie Griffin in the Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
The Kangaroos took the 19-year-old with their only selection in the draft, No.6 overall.
A versatile 184cm player, Griffin has impressed with his improving strength and endurance since being overlooked in last year's national draft.
He averaged three contested marks per game for the Dragons in the Coates Talent League, and kicked 2.4 from 15 disposals in a recent under-18s trial game for Vic Metro.
"A feature of his game is his competitiveness both in the air and on the ground," North Melbourne Recruiting Manager Will Thursfield said.
"He's genuinely tough, and a really versatile player. He plays a lot taller than his height and is a booming kick.
"While he's played most of his football across half-forward, we see him as having the ability to play at both ends and potentially even through the wing."
The list spot the Kangaroos used to draft Griffin became available after young defender Blake Thredgold was placed on the inactive list as he continues his rehabilitation from a long-term foot injury.
Griffin becomes the third player on North Melbourne's list to have been recruited via the mid-season rookie draft, joining Zac Banch and Cooper Trembath (2025) and Robert Hansen jnr (2023).
