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ROOKIE Aaron Mullett has mounted a compelling case over the past two months to be elevated to North Melbourne's senior list.

The 19-year-old left-footer has been in outstanding form for North Ballarat in the VFL, averaging more than 24 possessions in the Roosters' past six games.

He began that stretch of games with a best-on-ground performance against the Northern Bullants in VFL round 13, when he racked up 24 disposals and kicked three goals.

And, last Saturday, Mullett starred in North Ballarat's 87-point win over Frankston with 28 disposals. North Melbourne development coach Jason Lappin later told kangaroos.com.au Mullett dead-heated for best-on-ground honours with Daniel Pratt and Liam Anthony.

Even before his performance against Frankston, North coach Brad Scott said Mullett's form had meant he was being closely considered for senior elevation.

Mullett, who was selected by North at pick No. 34 in last year's Rookie Draft, said at Aegis Park on Tuesday he was hopeful of being elevated before the end of the season.

"It was my goal to try and get elevated this year," Mullett said. "If it happens, that would be great and I'd take it with both hands.

"If not, I will have a big pre-season and have another crack at it next year. At the moment I just need to keep playing consistent football. Hopefully I'm close."

Mullett's first season with North has been highly promising. Apart from missing a few games early with a back injury, he has spent the whole year in North Ballarat's senior team.

Initially, he played on the wing, where he played for Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup last year. However, his recent form spike has largely coincided with his move to half-back.

Mullett played as a defender for Eastern Ranges in his first TAC Cup season, in 2009, but said the greater defensive responsibilities at half-back had still been an adjustment.

"As a winger, you've got to have that defensive mentality to run back when needed, but sometimes the other winger's doing their thing and you're doing your thing," Mullett said.

"But at half-back I have to shift my focus to being more defensive to start with and then attacking. But I'm trying to run off my man as much as I can and play that really attacking half-back role, with lots of inside 50s.

"I've still got to get better at running back harder to defend. But I have been playing better footy on the back flank than I was on the wing, so I'm loving it there at the moment."

Ironically, Mullett said two of the main areas he had been working on since joining North - his pace and kicking - had been his biggest strengths as a junior footballer.
 
Obviously, Mullett's speed has not deserted him since he walked through the doors at Aegis Park. But he said he had not been taking advantage of it in his early games with North Ballarat and had had to force himself to take the game, and his opponents, on more often.

Similarly, Mullett remains the silky left-foot kick he was with the Ranges and Vic Metro last season. However, his default response whenever he got the ball back then had been to kick it.

Since joining North, Mullett has spent countless hours working with development coach Jason Lappin on his 'first gives' - in other words, learning to handball to a teammate whenever they're in a better position.

He's also had learn to resist the temptation to kick to difficult targets, and to take the "most obvious, easier kick".

When Mullett joined North in December last year he had the slight build many first-year players take into the AFL. However, he has since worked hard in the gym, and the muscle he has added has helped him to be more aggressive around the ball.

"Tackling is something I've had to work really hard on, but I've been getting my five or six tackles a game now and feel a lot more comfortable out on the ground," he said.
 
Mullett has also adjusted well to the demands of an AFL lifestyle. He said the volume of training at North had initially been a shock, but his first pre-season had left him feeling fitter than he'd ever been.

As such, Mullett is almost looking forward to heading to Utah for the first time this pre-season, when North embarks on its second high-altitude training camp in the western American state. 

He knows from his teammates' "horror stories" that the camp will be torturous, but says he has seen just how hard North's young players such as Jack Ziebell and Ryan Bastinac train and the performances they have subsequently been able to produce.

Beyond his own individual aspirations for the remainder of the season, Mullett said everyone at the Kangaroos had been buoyed by the boost their finals chances received when the Sydney Swans lost to Richmond last Sunday.

The Swans are six premiership points ahead of North on the ladder, but face tough encounters against St Kilda at ANZ Stadium and Geelong at Skilled Stadium, in the next two rounds.

If they lose those and North wins its last three games - against Fremantle, St Kilda and Richmond, all at Etihad Stadium - the Kangaroos will displace the Swans in the eight.

"There's a different feeling around the club since we've come back from the bye," Mullett said.

"I think the boys sense they've got a great opportunity to make the finals. It's really exciting."

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