At this time of year, everyone is talking about who will make the eight and which teams will be contenders for the flag. While North has been regularly discussed, it’s not something veteran Brent Harvey or his team-mates are buying into.

''Brad (Scott) always says you get what you deserve in footy, and last year we deserved to finish outside the top eight because we weren't good enough,'' Harvey told The Age’s Matt Murnane.

''Whether that changes this year, we don't really talk about that stuff - there is a lot of predictions going on at this time of year and we've just got to leave that to everyone else.''

The reason for all the hype is understandable after the Roos lost 10 games by less than three goals and five games by under one goal last season. Many reaching the conclusion that if the side improves, a big climb up the ladder is more than likely.

North finished 10th and had the equal toughest draw in the competition. The club also performed well against the best with a 5-6 win-loss record from 11 games against the finalists.

''If we had have won five of those close games we would have finished in the top four. If we had have won three of those games we would have finished fifth or sixth,'' Harvey said.

''So people could certainly look at it that way.''

It’s nothing new for the 35-year-old as one of a handful of current players who featured in the 2007 team that came from outside the top eight in 2006, into the top four and a preliminary final.

Harvey says back then, it was the club’s younger players that made the difference.

''We know what we get from [Daniel] Wells, [Drew] Petrie, [Andrew] Swallow every week, we've just got to rely on those younger guys coming through and pushing the next guys up.''