North Melbourne interim senior coach Brett Ratten has backed key defender Ben McKay to recapture his best form in Sunday's game against Essendon.

Collingwood forwards Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox had the better of the Kangaroos' backs in Round 11, with 10 marks and five goals between them in a 35-point win.

McKay faced criticism from analysts in the wake of the result, but his coach says the 25-year-old hasn't dropped his head.

"You can't control what's happened, but you can do something about it, which he's done this week," Ratten told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

"He'd be the first to put his hand up and say 'that's not what I like to see (from myself)'."

The Bombers have gone smaller up front this season, but could be bolstered by reigning best and fairest Peter Wright's return from a shoulder injury sustained before the season.

'Two-Metre Peter' was the Bombers' best and fairest and leading goalkicker in 2022, and took eight marks for four scoring shots last time the teams met.

If he is to return, McKay's presence will be one of the keys to a Kangaroos win.

"We've had a chat about (his form), and he'll be doing something about it on the weekend," Ratten related.

"He's a good player, and we need to back him in. He can do better than that and he will."

The Roos trailed by 53 points at the final change against the ladder leaders, but rallied to kick six goals to three in the fourth term.

Ratten says the determined effort to close the game out was a sign of growth in the group.

"When we broke it down, there were a few aspects of our game where we thought 'geez, we did pretty well there, for periods'," he reflected.

"That's what we're trying to build towards … that more sustained performance in our KPIs.

"It might have been easy to throw it in but they didn't, and that's a good sign for our group."

Ratten, who will coach the Roos for a third consecutive game on Sunday, says the group has been galvanised by their competitive performances and growth in their teammates.

Will Phillips had a career-best 29 disposals against the Magpies, Bailey Scott hit 30 for the second straight week, while Eddie Ford continues to impress on the opposite wing.

"There's no doubt there's some self-belief growing with individuals," he acknowledged.

"You look at Will Phillips' game, or Hughie Greenwood, who has been going around for a while but has got a few games in a row and I think he's No.3 in the competition for pressure over the last few weeks.

"George Wardlaw is just getting a taste of it, and Bailey Scott on the wing has stepped up to another level.

"So, I think there's some self-belief individually, and then that transfers to the collective … the group is starting to rise."