AFL: North Melbourne coach David Noble has no interest in his team finishing bottom of the ladder

North Melbourne has Hawthorn in its sights after a massive upset win gave the Kangaroos hope of getting off the bottom of the ladder.

Todd Goldstein’s record-breaking feat capped a big night for the Kangaroos. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Forget the number one pick in the AFL draft, North Melbourne coach David Noble has no interest in his team finishing bottom of the ladder this season.

And in terms of what he is trying to achieve, he said Monday night’s upset win over West Coast in Perth was a significant night for the club.

The Kangaroos’ improved form since the bye continued against the Eagles, fighting back from 11 points down in the final term to win by 10 points.

Since the bye, the Roos have recorded wins over West Coast and Gold Coast and a draw with Greater Western Sydney.

Their two losses have been to top four teams Brisbane and Western Bulldogs by just 23 points and 29 points respectively.

“Is this a landmark win? It could be. It’s a significant achievement,” Noble said of the win.

“It was really important. The experience the guys have gained tonight, playing a mature team, a team in the finals, in a hostile environment, to show that grit, is a massive tick to the players.

“It’s a significant night for the club.”

The Kangaroos are on the move. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

North only faces one top eight team in the next month as it tries to make up a two-point gap on 17th placed Hawthorn and leap off the bottom of the ladder.

The Kangaroos play Essendon this week, then Carlton, Geelong and Richmond.

“I don’t want to finish on the bottom,” Noble declared.

“We want to win every game. That‘s a fundamental staple. I’d like to finish off the bottom.”

The Kangaroos side taking the field now is a far cry from the one that lost their first eight games by an average of 51 points, including a massive 128-point flogging from the Bulldogs in round 3.

Noble said the leaders of the club had driven a new standard over the past eight weeks.

He said there was a mature discipline being shown consistently throughout the team and they weren’t scared to take the game on, playing through the middle of the ground.

“It’s not a risk, it’s the way we want to play,” he said. “We had to score beat them.

“If the Eagles were going to beat us, they were going to earn it.

“We have built some good systems since the bye. The younger guys are getting a taste of what that level needs to be on a permanent basis.”

Noble had special praise for veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein, who broke the all-time AFL record for hit-outs before kicking the sealing goal.

“For Goldy to get the record tonight, the way he did, kick the last goal, it‘s a credit to him,” Noble said.

“He‘s a champion of our club, to be the record holder for the most hit-outs is something we will reflect on tonight and give him a pat on the back for it.”