NORTH Melbourne is better placed to enjoy sustained on-field success than at any time during the past decade, veteran defender Michael Firrito says.
Firrito, 30, joined the Roos via the rookie draft in late 2002 and under former coach Dean Laidley was part of three finals campaigns in four years that took North as far as the 2007 preliminary final.
But Firrito told AFL.com.au this week North's list now has more depth than the Laidley era, with the playing group excited about what it can achieve in the next few years.
"The club is probably in the best position it has been in my entire time here," Firrito said.
"We bat pretty deep now which is good. It's something we probably haven't had for a little while.
"Nick Dal Santo comes in now, Robbie Nahas comes in and we get Luke McDonald who we think is a readymade player.
"So there's three players we think will all come in and play a role next year. Add to that the continued development of our younger guys and we're confident we're in a good position."
Firrito re-signed for 2014 at the end of last season, a year when he was dropped for the first time since 2004 after quad and knee injuries affected his form.
Despite spending five weeks out of North's senior team, Firrito never contemplated retiring, saying the lure of being part of the Roos' emerging team next season was too strong.
"Last year was a really tough year. We lost so many close ones, it was bitterly disappointing," Firrito said.
"But I know the group has a real resolve about them. We want to right some wrongs and put ourselves in a much better position.
"That's one of the reasons I was so keen to play on because there's a lot of excitement about the place.
"But there's still a lot of hard work to do and group is fully aware of that."
