Ben Cunnington believes North’s tackling and pressure will be a key to the side’s success this season. While bullish about the Roos’ chances in 2016, the midfielder knows the players must approach each contest with the right attitude if they’re going to make a difference on the field.

North managed to overcome the Crows late on Saturday night to win by 10 points, but it struggled to gain any ascendancy early in the game and Cunnington knows why.

“I felt at halftime we had to come out and change a little bit. Our intensity was probably a little bit off but after halftime our tackling pressure and that really stepped up and the midfield got back on top in the centre bounces so that was definitely a key to helping us,” he told NMFC.com.au at training on Monday.

The 24-year-old said having each player hunt the ball and the man with intent should be a non-negotiable.

“It’s one of our key strengths now and in the first half we were just a little bit off. That intensity, it’s a mindset thing, so when we get that going we’re a pretty good team.”

Going head-to-head with Adelaide’s ball winners in Scott Thompson and Rory Sloane was always going to be a challenge but Cunnington was pleased with the way North’s midfield competed.

“Them [sic] two blokes in particular, they’re contested ball kings so we knew it was going to be a tough battle in there especially with Jacobs in the ruck as well. So we knew they’re a good inside mid [midfield] team but we believe in our own midfield group as well with Goldy [Todd Goldstein] leading the way,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be a battle but we were excited for it and we felt like we went okay.”

Watch the full interview with Ben Cunnington in the video player at the top of the page