The fast-paced environment of the AFL is often sink or swim. Reinvention is the key to a long and successful career at the highest level for most, almost all players.

That reinvention is prominent in the current North Melbourne squad, with Kayne Turner’s newfound success as a run-with-defender and Josh Walker’s ability as a swingman just two recent success stories.

Perhaps the most successful, and one of the most surprising, is Aaron Hall’s resurgence as a half-back flanker with the number 43 spending the bulk of his career in the forward-line or as an attack-minded winger.

Now playing a crucial and creative role coming out of the back line, Hall currently ranks fifth in the AFL for metres gained per games, and third for kicks.

Quite simply, he efficiently and effectively moves the ball forward, splitting lines and finding targets with near unrivalled quality and power.

“He’s improved quite a lot in the last seven or eight weeks and he’s a big reason why we’ve been able to score from the back half so well,” captain Jack Ziebell said in an upcoming Member Q & A, presented by AIA.

“What’s impressed us is his ability to work on his defensive craft. Especially over the last month he’s really improved that aspect.

“He’s been able to really lock down on an opponent and defend them really hard, while still racking up some pretty big numbers and helping us get the ball rebounding out of our defensive 50, [it’s] a credit to him.”

Traditionally a rebounding defender, Luke McDonald has moved onto the wing since his return from injury to allow Hall to continue his game-breaking antics from the back line.

With more than a few new faces taking their places in the back six this season, McDonald says the way Hall has meshed with the whole defensive unit is brilliant.

“Earlier in his career he’s never had any trouble finding the footy, so his link from the back half has been really important for us, and both him and Jack (Ziebell) … their distribution from the back half has really helped us,” McDonald said.

“Even ‘Taz’ (Robbie Tarrant) going back there has really helped the whole back line … he gives a lot of structure to those boys and I think it’s really helped Hally tighten up his defence.

“He’s becoming a really damaging two-way player.”