North Melbourne midfielder Sam Gibson has laughed off speculation former captain Andrew Swallow could lose his spot in the side.
The 29-year-old Swallow has played mostly in the forward line this season in a change to his usual inside-midfield role.
Former teammate Nick Dal Santo, who retired at the end of last season, believes Swallow is struggling to adapt in new his role.
The Roos last year told several veterans contracts would not be renewed, and Dal Santo - who is now a regular pundit for Fox Footy - believes the same fate could await Swallow.
"For me, it feels like they are moving him out of the team already," Dal Santo said.
"What he does really well at AFL level and what he's elite at is his tackling and his contested stoppage work. When you're playing at half-forward and on the wing, that's not his strength."
After solid games against West Coast and Geelong, Swallow managed just 14 touches and a goal during the Roos' loss to Greater Western Sydney last week.
But with North preparing to face the Western Bulldogs on Good Friday, Gibson says Swallow's move is simply a reality of the modern game.
"The way footy is - and the Bulldogs are a really good example of that - is to be successful, you need to be versatile," Gibson told AAP.
"Andrew's played a bit of forward lately but it's a forward role that he can play really well. He's played a bit of inside midfield like he did in the first round, and I'm sure you'll see him play a bit this week. He's just proving that versatility.
"He's a three-time best and fairest winner and a former captain so I wouldn't have thought his spot in the side is any danger.
"I guess (Dal Santo) is in a really good position to formulate his opinions about our club because he was here for a number of years. But now he's out, I'm not sure whether it's spot on."
The departure of Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito, Drew Petrie and Dal Santo last year has left the Roos much younger overall, with Jarrad Waite (34), Gibson and Scott Thompson (both 30) now the club's oldest players.
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