How things can change in such a short time.
A month ago, the Kangaroos were walking off the field at Domain Stadium after their third narrow loss in the space of four weeks.
Fast forward to now, and North has won three of its last four – two of them after responding to a last quarter challenge.
Jamie Macmillan has explained how the losses to Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle helped North in the dying stages against Melbourne.
“If I’m going to be honest with you, if that game was in Round 3 or 4, we probably would have got a little bit jumpy,” Macmillan admitted to RSN Racing and Sport on Monday morning.
“As long as you learn from (close losses), you can take something from it.
“Especially with a young group of guys, who haven’t been in that situation a hell of a lot before, to be able to have those three really close losses and then analyse them and work out what we’ve done and what we would have done differently, it holds us in good stead for games like yesterday.
“We put a lot of work into working out what we did wrong in those games in particular and how to attack it going forward.
“That’s why it was pleasing yesterday, especially with a young group … to come away with the result.”
The positive results on the scoreboard in recent weeks have reinforced the playing group’s confidence.
“We were getting a bit frustrated and you just want to see some reward for the effort you’re putting in,” Macmillan said of the side’s 0-5 start.
“To finally get a couple of wins on the board now, and to see the results of what we’re doing and the plans coming off that we’ve put in place, it gives the guys a bit of confidence.
“It has been hard to maintain that belief that what you’re doing is going to work, especially when you’re coming away with a loss, that’s been the challenge.
“But now, especially in the last four weeks – with the exception of last week against Sydney – to be able to do what we’ve been able to do and come away with four points has been pleasing.”
North’s game style in 2017 has been a slight shift from years past, with plenty of focus on pressuring the ball carrier, and then moving the ball quicker when in possession.
It’s an alteration the players have been appreciating.
“It’s actually enjoyable to play. We’ve just been trying to take the game on a little bit more and really ram home our pressure,” Macmillan said.
“It’s been what we’ve been trying to make the cornerstone of our game and we want to try and bring that effort every week, regardless of how well you’re playing individually.
“If you can bring the consistent brand of footy in terms of winning the ball and also pressuring when the opposition has it, we feel like we’ll be in most games.”
