North coach Brad Scott has expressed the importance of securing the four points in Round 23, and building on an encouraging year.

“For us, this week is vindication of what we’re trying to build here, and we know that this time last year we played what was essentially a wooden spoon game in Round 23 against Brisbane,” Scott told SEN.

“A lot of people would have thought that the draft pick is a better result than a win, but this year for us proves to our players and to our supporters that the win is more important in the long term.

“That’s what we’re trying to build and that’s what we pride ourselves on at North, so it may not be an important game to a lot of people, but it certainly is to us.”

For Scott and his staff, the long-term goal remains. despite missing out on a ticket to September.

“There’s no doubt it’s disappointing heading into Round 23 without a realistic chance of making finals,” he said.

“When the prospect of being able to qualify for finals is there, then that’s what you strive for, and while our goal all year has been to be a side that’s competitive and capable of beating the best teams in the competition, the ultimate result of competing with the best in September while it was there was really optimistic for us, and we really wanted to achieve that.

“There is a bit of a feeling of disappointment, but we move on pretty quickly.”

Signs of matching the league’s best have been evident throughout the season, with wins over four of the current top eight sides.

“That West Coast game was really important for us, because West Coast has proven this year that they’re a good side,” Scott said.

“Winning that game that we gave ourselves an opportunity and even the next week against Brisbane, to win a really close game in pretty trying conditions meant that we kept our season alive.

“To technically remain in the mix for finals in Round 23, means that we’ve achieved a lot of what we set out to achieve at the start of the year, but you confidently re-assess your expectations as the season goes on.

“To get this far into the season with a chance to make the finals is certainly what we were trying to do.”