One of the best sides from an attacking perspective last year, North was susceptible at times to opposition counter-attacks.
But through experience comes valuable lessons, and ultimately, improvement according to the defensive line coach.
“You can have the best back six in the competition, but if you don’t defend well up the rest of the field you’re going to put them under all sorts of pressure,” Drummond told NMFC.com.au.
“For us to improve defensively, it comes from our forwards defending better and pressuring from our mids (midfielders) and also the defenders playing their role.”
PRESS PLAY above to watch the defenders' pre-season update | YouTube
The introduction of Leigh Tudor has been vital to educating the players.
“The word defence; there’s 18 guys responsible for that at any one time, so obviously the ability to defend well through the midfield and try to turn the ball over as high up as we can, not wait until it gets to our defensive 50 is critical.
“Lurker (Tudor) comes with a huge reputation for being able to teach that and coach that and he’s been really positive for us.
“Obviously having him and Crock (Darren Crocker) working for us in that midfield, it’s such a big important area in modern football, is great for us.”
While Drummond has been pleased with the progress of the defensive group in match simulation, the real test is still to come.
“I think one thing you hear players talking about every time the matches coming around is, you can’t beat match practice or playing against an actual opposition,” he added.
“I know the boys and everyone are looking forward to opposition who don’t necessarily, or we hope, don’t know what we’re trying to do.”
That first challenge is just days away, with a clash against Carlton in Ballarat on Saturday.
While pre-season affairs can be scrappy as players find their feet, Drummond is confident North’s players are well prepared.
“The rustiness generally comes from a match conditioning point of view, so hopefully all the work we’ve done with the boys for a number of months holds them in good stead for that and we are confident it will.”
“They’ve got some talls who are genuinely tough matchups, and the guys like Garlett and these blokes who create a lot of grief at the fall of the ball.
“It will be a really good test for us first up, looking forward to getting down to Ballarat, a home away from home and hopefully putting on a really good performance.”
North Melbourne v Carlton
Saturday February 15
4:40pm (EDT)
Eureka Stadium, North Ballarat
