WITH his side’s finals berth safe and secure, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was doubly pleased his players had experienced “September intensity” against the Crows in Hobart on Saturday.
Having prevailed by seven points in a tight finish, the type of game the Roos have struggled to close out in the past, North is likely to host an elimination final in the first week of finals and Scott is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead.
"We knew we were going to get genuine practice at what you get in September and I think we’ve come a long way from those tight games where we’ve struggled at times," he said.
"The boys are so disciplined to do what we practise and they executed it well today. You can practise it all you like but you don’t get a lot of opportunity to practise it at September intensity.
"I think the players would have felt that last 10 minutes was like a final and that’s what we’re going to get in finals for four quarters."
Having let an early lead slip during the middle stages of a free-flowing contest played in front of 10,702 at Blundstone Arena, the Kangaroos were forced to come from two goals down early in the final term and then hold off a determined Adelaide outfit in the dying stages.
Scott lauded his midfield for taking control of the game when the Crows threatened to run away after three-quarter time, and reserved special praise for Jack Ziebell following the hard-nosed onballer’s star turn in the forward half.
"I’m loath to individualise but our midfield got on top and we were able to control the game," he said.
"The scoring end was clearly going to the other end for the game (and) to be able to outscore the opposition in the last quarter and get the job done was really pleasing.
"Obviously some individuals had some great games but if you start reeling them off from my vantage point you’d be going for a while."
Despite missing a couple of chances from set shots, Ziebell finished with 4.5 and looked particularly dangerous leading from the goalsquare after moving forward for a spell during the third quarter.
"He’s just a good player, Jack. You put good players where you need them,” Scott said.
"We rotated him forward for a rest and then he tried to come up to the midfield and the runner almost physically pushed him back down there.
"The last quarter we had to change it but we were fortunate he took a couple of great marks in the third quarter which made the decision a bit easier to make our sub and restructure our forward line.
"It’s the gig in coaching, you’re a genius when it works and a moron when it doesn’t."
