North champion Wayne Carey says more people should be talking about his old side.

At 5-0, Carey makes a strong case for the Roos' brand in his weekly column in The Age.

"While they're unbeaten, they lack a certain level of recognition – few people are really talking about them," Carey wrote.

"For some reason, the Kangaroos aren't seen as having quite the same sex appeal [as the Bulldogs]. They're regarded as more workmanlike and blue collar. Ben Cunnington and Jack Ziebell epitomise that image: tough and uncompromising but not exactly beautiful to watch.

"Yet the Kangas have won four finals in the past two years and been knocked out at the preliminary final stage both years, so they've achieved the sort of on-field results that teams like Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Richmond would envy.

"They always play an attractive brand of football, too, averaging 122 points a game this year to be the competition's heaviest scoring team."

Carey believes the draw could be to blame.

"Everywhere you turn, people seem to have doubts about the Roos.

"Why is that? Many people – at least in the media circles where I work – talk about Adelaide being a more legitimate premiership contender than North. Yet the Kangas knocked off Adelaide in round one.

"Sure, the draw's been favourable to the Roos so far; perhaps that's why people still have their doubts. But you can only beat what's put in front of you."

On the biggest stage, Carey believes North has a chance to claim a big scalp and change perceptions.

"The Kangas get an opportunity tonight to win over some of the doubters – even if they'll never take out the popularity award.

"Whatever the result, I'm really looking forward to this bout given it features two old-style Melbourne teams slugging it out."