North Melbourne will be provided with a two-year assistance package, the AFL announced on Monday.
At an AFL Commission meeting attended by all 18 club presidents, North Melbourne asked the AFL for special assistance to help aid the club's poor on-field performance.
Under the assistance package, the club will receive an additional end-of-first-round selection at this year's national draft, as well as two end-of-first-round draft selections and two extra rookie list spots in 2024.
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While the package is intended to be distributed over two years, the AFL said it could review the assistance picks for 2024 should the club "materially increase" its on-field performance next season.
However, the club will be able to use the picks in trades this off-season.
"North Melbourne has faced considerable challenges in recent years having not finished higher than 17th on the AFL ladder in the four seasons since 2020. The club presented to the AFL on how assistance can help the club potentially improve its on-field performance," AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon said in a league statement.
"The AFL and football fans want a strong competition. Ensuring North Melbourne is competitive on the field and can build strength across its organisation, in the short term and in a sustainable way, is important for both the club and the broader competition.
"Under the leadership of President Sonja Hood, CEO Jennifer Watt and the club's board, the AFL is confident that North Melbourne is heading in the right direction. After assessing the club's position, the special assistance package can help the club deliver on its strategy for overall improvement in its football program and give greater confidence to staff, players and supporters."
North Melbourne already holds three first-round selections including picks 2, 14 and 19 in this year's draft and three 2024 first-round selections ahead of the trade period.
The No.14 pick is courtesy of Jason Horne-Francis' trade to Port Adelaide last year.
The Kangaroos could also receive pick No.3 as free agency compensation for defender Ben McKay, who informed the club of his intentions to explore free agency opportunities on Friday.
North Melbourne will not receive priority access or extra assistance surrounding draft prospect Ryley Sanders after the gun midfielder joined the club's Next Generation Academy last week.
"We've worked closely with the AFL over the past few weeks to build out an assistance package," North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said in a club statement.
"We put a strong case forward given our recent results and the steps we've taken to improve on and off the field, and we especially thank Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane and Ned Guy for listening to us.
"We're looking at every way to improve our list – whether that's bringing in more high-end draft talent or players with proven AFL experience.
"These selections will give the club flexibility to achieve those aims at the trade and draft table this year and next."
The Kangaroos won just three matches of this season, keeping themselves off the bottom of the ladder by 18.5 per cent over the Eagles.
The club has finished in the bottom two sides since 2020.
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