Joel,
Let me explain to you a few things. For starters North has not had a downfall, you will recall that North has finished in the top 4 for the last 7 years, 2 premierships, etc, blah, blah. We all know Collingwoods record.
You believe that North will fall this year.
This will not be the case for the following reasons.
1) Our top dozen players are as good as any ie - Carey, Stevens, Archer, McKernan, King, Pickett, Harvey, Colbert, Blakey,Martyn, Grant.
2) Your question as to what they are doing about it. We have turned over a third of our list from last year and only half the players from 99 are still at the club. Athough we lost Bell, we did gain Jess Sinclair(was pick 18 in 96 draft) and 3 draft picks in the top 8. These were used to draft Harris (captain metro side last year) Dylan Smith (captain vic country last year)and Daniel Motlop who from reports is something special. These are all hard running players who will all play this year and inject what North lacked last year, youth and enthusiasm.
3) You say that North are recycling hacks. All clubs recycle hacks, but the difference with North is that have a higher success rate than all others ie Blakey, Abraham, Bell, Pike, McCartney etc.
Rocca, Sinclair & McClaren may well be a Calthorpe or a Durkay but history suggests at least one of them will be a longterm player.
4) North has a number of younger players, although they do not get the publicity as similiar players from other clubs but will be consistent performers this year, players such as Rawlings, Watt, Lindsay Smith, Lange, Makepiece.
5)North was crucifed with injuries last year, Archer, Carey, McKernan, Colbert, Stevens, Martyn all missed games and played under duress. Reports are that all have regained full fitness and Stevens, Colbert, Mckernan, Archer have been outstanding in intraclub games.
6) The coaching structure has been revamped with two new assistant coaches and the players are all refreshed. With a shortened break last year and the fact that we have played an extra 4 or 5 games every year due to us playing consistent finals footy,(something the Collingwood hacks do not know)the team was physically gone at the end of last year.
7) Expect Pagan to revamp the game plan. Our centreline re midfield was severely exposed last year but expect Pickett to play in the midfield to give toughness and added pace from Sinclair, McLaren and the 3 top eight draft picks above.
8) Carey will play further forward with McKernan, Colbert, Smith, Rocca and Lange giving the focal points across half forward with players such as the Motlop brothers, Harvey, Abraham and Grant doing the crumbing.
9) Our backline may be a worry but Martyn, Archer, McCartney provide hardness with King run out of defence.
10) With our list we will finish in the top four at the end of the H&A and with a bit of luck (ie no injuries) North will be right with it come the last day in September.