NORTH Melbourne does not have a psychological problem at the start of games, with its dismal first-quarter record this season purely due to poor execution, coach Brad Scott says.
The Roos were the fastest team out of the blocks last season, winning 18 of 22 first quarters and outscoring their opponents by a combined 298 points.
But, in 2014, North has lost six of nine first quarters and been outscored by a combined 54 points, with just five teams faring worse in opening terms (Melbourne, Brisbane Lions, Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and St Kilda).
Those poor starts have been costly, with the Roos clawing their way back to victory in just two of the six games.
However, Scott told reporters on Thursday he had not felt the need to have anyone from outside the club speak to his players about their slow starts, saying they were going into games with a "terrific mindset".
"If you're alluding to (whether) it's a psychological issue, then no it's not that at all, or I don't think it is anyway," Scott said.
"I said after the (Geelong) game I didn't have the answer and I suppose what I meant by that was I didn't have the solution.
"In terms of what's going on with our slow starts, we've been beaten in contested possession early in games, certainly by Gold Coast and by Geelong.
"We were beaten on the outside of the contest and we didn't take our chances going forward.
"So really it's just footy, it's nothing to do with the mindset going in. Our players are going in, I think, with a terrific mindset, but we're not executing."
Scott said he would be more concerned if North's poor form extended beyond first terms, but was heartened that his players were able to fight their way back into games, saying last week's 20-point loss to Geelong would probably have been a 12-goal-plus loss three years ago.
"It's not far away. When we put together the start with the rest of it, I think we're confident we can play our best footy and compete against anyone," Scott said.
Scott said Grima, who has missed the past two rounds with a foot injury, would have to complete training on Thursday to be picked against the Eagles, but was not expected to.
With Joel Tippett suffering a long-term pectoral injury against Geelong, Scott Thompson and Lachlan Hansen become even more important players for North as they prepare to take on Eagles key forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling and rotating ruckmen Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
Michael Firrito, 189cm, will presumably have to step up and play a key defensive role.
The Roos coach said the club's match committee had yet to decide whether to persist with inexperienced key forward Majak Daw this round, but stressed that Daw had coped well with media criticism of his game against Geelong last Friday night.
"He's coped with it like he has over the last five years – with aplomb," Scott said.
"He's a really mature young man. He's had to handle a lot of different things over his life, but this is not one of the major ones."
Half-back Aaron Mullett (hamstring) has missed the past two rounds, but Scott said he was available for selection this week and would be seriously considered.
Twitter: @AFL_Nick.
