Scott backs North to rebound in AFL

North Melbourne’s AFL opposition is irrelevant to coach Brad Scott as he remains adamant they can improve dramatically over the next six weeks.

The Kangaroos are in crisis, with six losses from their last seven matches leaving them in big trouble.

After starting the season with a nine-game winning streak, remarkably North could now miss the finals.

But their strong start to the season means the Kangaroos’ fate is still in their own hands.

They remain eighth, two games clear of Port Adelaide and St Kilda.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has pumped up Friday night’s clash with the Kangaroos as being like a final, but the Magpies are three games outside the top eight.

And Scott is adamant that North can fix many of their problems.

“I see a lot of improvement for us … but we have to address some things that are not personnel related and they’re not form related,” he said.

“There are some areas of our game that are well within our control that we’re not doing.

“There are some specific areas, that I won’t go into, which are chalk and cheese (from their nine-game winning streak).

“The things we are talking about internally are irrelevant to the opposition you play – they are completely in our control.”

Several North stars have to lift, with All-Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein and key forward Drew Petrie under the media microscope.

Midfielder Ben Cunnington is another not currently at his best, while last weekend Daniel Wells and Jarrad Waite returned from injury.

Again, Scott is confident of a resurgence.

“Fortunately, the guys who are probably not in their best touch are really seasoned, capable players,” he said.

“The champions of the game don’t spend too long in situations like this and they work their way through.”

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