Defender Luke McDonald has labelled his round two performance against the Brisbane Lions one of his “better defensive games” and says he is ready to replicate that form against Port Adelaide.

In North’s thumping 82-point win over the Lions last Sunday, the 20-year-old collected 20 disposals and six marks after matching up on young Lions forward Josh Green for most of the match.

McDonald said he was pleased with his game on Green.

"He’s a dangerous player and he’s kicked a few goals on us in the past, so it was good to just get on him and nullify his impact," McDonald told NMFC.com.au.

"I had one of my better defensive games in my short career on the weekend.

"I was just stronger in my one-on-one (contests), I got a lot of spoils and really attacked the game with my run and handballing."

McDonald said he will take the same approach into North’s next match against the Power at Etihad Stadium this Saturday night.

Occupying his mind are the possible opponents he could line up against – the likes of Angus Monfries, Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Robbie Gray and Ollie Wines.

"I’ve got to play the way I played on Green; just be physical and you want them to leave the game thinking, ‘He was hard to play on, I don’t want to play against him again’," McDonald said.

The 189cm backman said the team was happy to have put the disappointing 77-point loss to Adelaide behind them with a strong display against the Lions.

"We were really disappointed with our intent (against Adelaide) and we weren’t looking after each other, and we definitely responded well – it’s something we have to do consistently now throughout the season," he said.

"The intent was there from the get-go against the Lions and everyone stood up and took their game to another level from what it was in round one."

McDonald, who finished third in last year’s AFL Rising Star Award, impressed across the half-back line in his debut season at Arden Street, featuring in 23 games, including the club’s three finals.

Despite his growing expectations, the number 21 said he enters each match with a simple philosophy.

"I want to keep the same hunger and attitude that I brought last year and if I do that and keep training and try to better myself, then everything will just get better, from my skills, to my running and tackling," he said.

Although McDonald took part in last year’s finals – and experienced playing in front of a crowd of nearly 80,000 in the elimination final against Essendon – he said he has developed and matured after countless hours at training.

"A lot of it (the confidence) is just getting stronger in the weights room and training specific parts of my game that need work," he said.

"Once you do it out on the track, it’s pretty easy to take it into games.

"I know I’m only in my second year so I’ve got a lot of improvement to go but it’s good that I’m one of the younger boys in the backline."