North Melbourne have to look back less than a year to be reminded that their AFL club can bounce back from a tough patch with a vengeance.
Winless after three rounds this season despite matching top-class opponents Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney for long periods, the Kangaroos badly need a breakthrough win against Brisbane on Sunday.
But key defender Scott Thompson said they took encouragement from the way they recovered from a down period last season.
Between rounds six and 10 last year the Kangaroos lost four of five games, culminating in a 115-point capitulation to Hawthorn.
But seemingly in a hole on a 4-6 record, they won nine of their next 10 to set up their first finals appearance in four years.
“Getting on a good winning streak and making finals was a real positive for a reasonably young group,” Thompson told AAP.
“We’ve taken a lot out of that and we know it’s not over.
“The season has just started so there’s still plenty of time to get the wins on the board and make the finals.”
While they’ve had costly lapses over the first three rounds, particularly in third quarters, Thompson said the big positive was in each game they were well on top at times.
“Our best is good enough and even better,” he said.
“In the first half against Geelong they didn’t have many answers for us and we were running the ball through them.
“It’s a real positive to see we can do that and when we’re on we’re flying.
“But we obviously still have to work on our lapses.”
The Lions’ only win of the season so far came by two points against Gold Coast last round.
But with co-captain Jonathan Brown having hit form with five goals and eight marks in that match, Thompson said Brisbane were dangerous.
Thompson is Brown’s likely opponent and would relish the challenge.
“He’s obviously a power forward and a champion of the game,” he said.
“You can’t give him a sniff because he’ll take it and take you to the cleaners.
North’s athletic tall forward Majak Daw will make his AFL debut and become the league’s first Sudanese-born player.
The Lions have handed debuts to Sam Docherty and Marco Paparone.
