Nick Dal Santo says questions have to start being asked about the on-field direction of his former club North Melbourne.
The three-time All Australian, who played the final three years of his career at Arden Street, said the playing group have disappointed since their upset victory over the GWS Giants in round two.
“I was so impressed walking away (from that game). They were hard, they were ferocious with the ball in hand and at the opposition and they scored, but since then they haven’t won a game," he said on AFL Nation.
“Maybe the spotlight hasn’t been put on them yet because there’s been teams that have been going worse.
“I think the time is right now to really start questioning where is this group going."
Dal Santo said it was the club's middle-tier and senior players that hadn't stepped up in the years following the departure of club legends Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie and Michael Firrito.
“These young players are given a responsibility, but they’re under pressure because their middle tier players and senior players that are meant to do the bulk of the work and carry the rest of the team when things get hard aren’t doing that outside of a couple of the older guys," he said.
“Guys that had been at that football club and built that football club and left it in a really good state, and were told to move on so this next group can come through.
“You look at all that and then you start to wonder what their plan is long term."
North Melbourne will look to break their five-match losing streak against Carlton at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon.