North coach Brad Scott says he is "most pleased" with Jarrad Waite's forward pressure acts in his first year at Arden Street.

The 32-year-old kicked four goals and laid a season-high seven tackles over Richmond last Sunday, helping the Roos claim a 17-point elimination final win.

According to Champion Data statistics, Waite is ranked among the best key forwards in the competition for forward pressure since round 16 this season.

Scott said Waite had been a revelation in the Roos' attacking half since joining the club as an unrestricted free agent.

"I've been most pleased with Jarrad's defensive work this year," Scott told Fox Footy's On the Couch on Monday night.

"The statistics tell you he is arguably the best defensive key forward at the moment."

North will travel to the harbour city with added belief and keen to make amends for its 71-point preliminary final loss to the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium last year.

The Roos went into that game on the back of a six-point win over Geelong after having defeated Essendon in the elimination final by 12 points in the first week of finals.

The Swans, meanwhile, had the luxury of a week's rest after accounting for Fremantle by 24 points in their home qualifying final.

Scott said a lot had changed since the sides met in the preliminary final.

"Clearly we got pretty badly beaten in that preliminary final, but we played a side that was well rested and had a week off on their home ground after we had two really taxing finals," he said.

"I feel, physically, we're in a much better space this year; we beat them at the SCG (in round four) last year as well.

"So the recent history is not as bad as the prelim might suggest, but they're still a formidable opponent."

Scott said the Roos were "ecstatic" with Ben Jacobs' ability to shut down the competition's most damaging ball-winners this season, which has included the likes of Swan Daniel Hannebery and Melbourne's Nathan Jones.

Last week, Jacobs restricted Richmond captain Trent Cotchin to just nine disposals for the match – his equal lowest tally on record.

"Our midfield coaches Darren Crocker and Leigh Tudor should take a lot of credit, along with Ben, for his form," Scott said.

"The jobs he's been able to do on the opposition's best midfielders has just been fantastic, and I like the defensive midfielders (but) we haven't had anyone who could quite do it to the level Ben's been doing it."