North Adelaide on track for top three finish after 73-point win over Port Adelaide

JOSH Francou will not talk ­finals, but it is wins like Saturday's over Port Adelaide in the middle of winter that will go a long way towards securing the double chance for North come September.

JOSH Francou will not talk ­finals, but it is wins like Saturday's over Port Adelaide in the middle of winter that will go a long way towards securing the double chance for North come September.

Instead of fighting just to play finals then facing an elimination final like last year when they finished fourth, the Roosters are on track to almost certainly finish top three and could even challenge Norwood for the minor premiership.

Francou conceded he was concerned about his players dropping their guard against Port Adelaide on the weekend.

But he need not have worried, for the Roosters demolished the Magpies by 73 points with an explosive second half at Prospect.

"I was worried about the game today and historically there is a perception among supporters that we drop the games we're supposed to win and I don't buy into that, because you can never win every game," he said.

"Every game is important from now until the end of the year … and they hung tough and got the result.

"Talking about moving forward, every game is important and that's what I said to the players afterwards."

The pleasing thing about the victory for North was the even spread of contributors, with midfielder Ben Williams and young defender Jake Keller outstanding.

The win leaves the Roosters one game behind Norwood at the top of the ladder ahead of this weekend's home clash with South.