Shannon Grant says North Melbourne could surprise Adelaide in elimination final

NORTH Melbourne can use the bye to its advantage and bounce back in the elimination final against Adelaide, according to Kangaroos premiership star Shannon Grant.

Former stars Michael O’Loughlin and Shannon Grant will present the premiership cup and medals on grand final day. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

NORTH Melbourne can use the bye to its advantage and bounce back in the elimination final against Adelaide, according to Kangaroos premiership star Shannon Grant.

The Roos will be out to stop a four-game skid next Saturday night to keep their slim premiership hopes alive.

“They’re a chance (against the Crows), if anything the bye is probably going to help them,” Grant said.

“It’s a really good chance for them to regroup and focus (work on their game) and actually being able to get some solid training sessions in.

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“Finals footy is a different game — North Melbourne’s best is good enough, so hopefully they can have a really solid couple weeks on the track and be able to come out and perform really well against Adelaide.”

The Crows have won 12 of their past 14 games but only three of those wins against top-eight rivals including a depleted North Melbourne, who they defeated by 33 points at the Adelaide Oval in Round 14.

Grant believes North’s recent record in finals could be cause for concern for the Crows.

“They’ve proven that they can actually play really well come finals,” Grant said.

“It goes up another level, they’ve started to get some younger players with experience (in the team) that they probably haven’t (had) the last couple of years so that will certainly stand them in good stead and hopefully the older, more senior players can stand up and lead from the front.”

The 1999 Norm Smith medallist, who played 301 games in a career spanning 14 seasons, said North must move on from the decision to delist decorated Shinboners Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito and Nick Dal Santo.

“The club’s always bigger than the individual, regardless of who that is,” Grant said.

“The most important thing now is that the North Melbourne Football Club have a finals campaign to worry about.”

Shannon Grant says Brent Harvey should retire a one club player. Picture: Getty Images

Grant hopes Harvey retires a one-club player.

“I’m a bit of a football traditionalist, I’d love to see Boomer finish as a one club player,” Grant said.

“He’s been a tremendous player and there’s absolutely no doubt he could probably continue on — I’m sure as the season draws to an end, and he’s got time to think and to sit down and reflect on the time that he has left, I’m sure he’ll make the right decision for him and his family.”

Grant will present the Norm Smith Medal on Grand Final Day.

“It’s probably for me the biggest honour that I’ve had along with actually winning the premiership on the day,” he said.

Originally published as Shannon Grant says North Melbourne could surprise Adelaide in elimination final