Former North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo believes his old club’s key focus for the off-season is working out how they can support Ben Brown up forward.
With the retirement of Jarrad Waite, Dal Santo believes Mason Wood is the ideal player to step up.
“I want to see a healthy Mason Wood and the reason I want that is because I think he can fill the void left by Jarrad Waite,” Dal Santo told SEN Afternoons.
“I think at some stage next year, us as football fans will see the important role that Jarrad Waite played for Ben Brown.
“I reckon there was a lot of selfless work done by Waite which we don’t see and we don’t really highlight.
“I think Waite was underrated as a player particularly for the Kangaroos.
“Someone needs to support Ben Brown otherwise if they become too Brown focused and dominant, other defenders will roll off.
“A healthy Mason Wood can at least fill that void.”
Dal Santo said working out their forward mix should be the most important facet of their pre-season training.
“Their focus for the pre-season needs to be getting this different looking forward line working,” he said.
“Put in Jack Ziebell with Wood and Brown and they need to get those three working together like Waite and Brown have done for the last few years.”