North Melbourne is absolutely stacked for midfield talent, and Garry Lyon can see a likeness to the impenetrable Hawthorn core that ran riot throughout the 2010s.

From Luke Hodge’s generational leadership to Sam Mitchell’s intelligence and Jordan Lewis’ brute force, Hawthorn were a force to be reckoned with, claiming three straight premierships under current North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson.

Emulating that of his former side, the next stage of Clarkson’s Kangaroo development relies on their midfield core, and although the ruthless nature is still to be seen, Lyon believes that their young guns might have what it takes to match Clarko’s stars of yesteryear.

“The talent of that midfield of North Melbourne is undeniable, we know that,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“Harry Sheezel can find the footy for fun, George Wardlaw, Finn O’Sullivan, (Luke Davies-Uniacke) and Colby McKercher.

“The next stage of this development, if they are going to take and help drive North Melbourne to where the North fans want them to go, is, have they got a ruthless streak.

“Have they got that competitive (nature)? I’m thinking Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis. Those three, they were as tough, brutal and uncompromisingly competitive as any three, and they helped drive and set a standard that says either you step up, or you step off.

“Wardlaw, to me, I know he plays like it… has he got that ability to say, ‘come along with me, and if you don’t get tot his standard, you’re going to feel uncomfortable’.

“O’Sullivan is as close to Hodge… he’s 19, but he looks to me like he’s got Hodge qualities. No bulldust.

“I spoke to a couple of North Melbourne people about this – he is as team-first as any player at that footy club. ‘Whatever is best for the team, don’t worry about me’.

“’I’ll play back pocket, I’ll play forward pocket, on the bench, whatever is the best thing for the team’. That is what I love to hear. He has got that Hodge, Mitchell, Lewis (level of) uncompromisingness.

“Wardlaw’s attack on the footy has. Sheezel’s ball winning and McKercher’s ball winning has.

“Can they now go, ‘we’ve played for three years, let’s start to get a standard of footy and a level that needs to be reached, and we are not going to settle for anything else’.

“Put pressure on each other, demand that of each other as those Hawthorn boys did. I reckon if they can, then away we go.”

North Melbourne take on the Blues this afternoon at 3:15pm in a classic Good Friday clash.