AFL analyst David King says there are no excuses if North Melbourne miss the top four

“Enough is enough. It is time for North Melbourne to deliver on potential and not only reach the finals but finish top four.”

OVER the last twelve months at North Melbourne we’ve heard it all.

Rightly or wrongly, there’s been a multitude of reasons why the Kangaroos have underachieved, failed or simply lost the close ones. The list of reasons is long — too long. It has morphed into an excuse bag.

Enough is enough.

Coach Brad Scott has flirted with the fine line of reasons versus excuses. They’re all palatable and logical, but it’s a different tale most weeks. There’s been everything from, ‘It’s a young group’, ‘it’s the draw’, ‘it’s the roof’, ‘it’s the mental fragility of the playing unit’ to ‘A lack of leadership’.

Scott’s four years at the helm have produced a 50 per cent strike rate; a very acceptable figure when coaching under restrictions — handcuffed by the budgets on football department contribution, the facilities and the salary cap spend.

But as Scott enters his fifth season it’s become apparent and obvious that James Brayshaw has fulfilled his end of the bargain — a beefed-up football department that now invests on par with the strong Victorian clubs. Brayshaw now has the ability to assess the entire club and its personnel accurately and unconditionally.

Those extra funds allow Gavin Brown to ready the youngsters, Leigh Tudor to bring his Midas touch to the midfield and Geoff Walsh to rule the roost with a view to allowing all staff to perform the role they were employed to do.News_Rich_Media: North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey donned a GoPro head camera during training, providing a unique perspective at Kangaroos headquarters.

Walsh will ensure Scott concentrates solely on coaching and distances himself from broader issues and possible distractions, much like Neale Balme does at Geelong. In fairness to Scott, his role has included marketing the club through the media, promoting the sponsors and the brand. We will hear less of Scott and more of Walsh in 2014.

Brayshaw promised the world on appointment and given the new facilities, staffing numbers and financial improvement it’d be foolish to suggest he’s been anything but an outrageous success. The fact that the Kangaroos lured a free agent of the calibre of St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo is credit to the foundation Brayshaw and Scott have laid.

More remarkably was withstanding a late offer for Dal Santo from Essendon and its state-of-the-art facility, new coach and a playing list that may contend for the premiership. Dal Santo chose North Melbourne.

Finally, the off-field spend matches the on-field expectation. Scott now has all the tools and the trimmings of the strong clubs. They now want for nothing, except results. The Kangaroos list is now the fourth oldest and third most experienced. They’ve won 14 and 10 games the previous two seasons and we all know they last year lost eight games by fewer than 17 points. It screams premiership mode. If not then what is it?News_Rich_Media: Take a look behind the scenes at North Melbourne as father-son product Luke McDonald receives his first senior call up for the Kangaroos.

The time is now and Scott is acutely aware of that fact, accepting that success, or otherwise, in 2014 will bring serious scrutiny.

Scott has the luxury of a contract that doesn’t expire until 2016’s conclusion, but this season will be career-defining. While pressure pours onto the coach he doesn’t walk alone.

Jack Ziebell must assume genuine responsibility for the midfield without the leadership and toughness of captain Andrew Swallow. Ziebell, at 23 years of age, is ready. A clearance beast that historically has lacked fitness, requiring spells more often than any other AFL player. The AFL’s No. 1 clearance team in 2013 will be tested and Ziebell will have the major say on whether this advantage remains or is frittered away.

The older citizens in Brent Harvey, Daniel Wells, Drew Petrie and Dal Santo show no signs of wear and tear, but they can’t wait any longer for the next generation to assume control. Will these guys be better performers in 2015 or 2016? Logically, we can assume the veterans will experience a dip in productivity; therefore 2014 again becomes important.

Ben Cunnington and Ryan Bastinac are quality possession winners and given a base of 70-80 games the time is also upon them to separate from good honest footballers to elites. They finished equal fifth in last season’s best and fairest and if the Roos are to make genuine inroads then at least one of them must be on the podium at seasons end. News_Image_File: Andrew Swallow will be sorely missed until his return. Picture: Michael Klein

Another wildcard factor for dramatic improvement will be the seasons of youngsters such as Aaron Mullet, Aaron Black and Shaun Atley. All are high-octane game-breakers who provide something unique and different from the nuts and bolt midfield brigade. Consistency will be their key requirement, as Scott needs these players to be the icing on the cake types. If Atley starts requiring a tagger then the Kangaroos will be flying.

The season offers opportunity to capitalise on an easy draw, rated only the 16th most difficult by Champion Data. No matter where you place your emphasis for a successful season, the Kangaroos appear to have all their ducks in a row. Injuries can grip every club and you can’t plan for bad luck, but their most important players are their key defenders in Scott Thompson and the already injured Nathan Grima. Joel Tippett will hold down centre half-back until Grima’s ready as the key post stocks are light on.

The Kangaroos improved their defence by two goals last season and another minimal improvement would translate to wins. It’s been a pre-season that has focused on situational training for those moments late in game when they either require a score or need to deny one. This is where the coaching and learning must come to the fore.

Yes, I am a former Kangaroos player and supporter, but the facts are the facts. It’s simply time for this club to take the bull by the horns and achieve something significant in what shapes as a very open season. A top four finish is the pass mark this year. Lofty? Of course, but if it doesn’t happen this year why will it in the next two?

This isn’t a time for more excuses. There’s no more ‘Dog ate my homework’ scenario at North.

It’s put up or shut up.

BRAD SCOTT’S RECORD

2010: 9th

2011: 9th

2012: 8th

2013: 10th

2014 TOP 4?