North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has suggested he will resist the temptation to wield the selection axe this round, instead backing his players to bounce back after their round one thrashing by Essendon.

North was beaten by the Bombers by 39 points last Friday night, but the match statistics told a sorrier tale with the Roos obliterated in clearances (52-30), stoppages (35-21), possessions (449-291) and marks (159-73).

Post match, Scott's chief concerns were the Roos' inability to win the ball in the midfield and their failure to win it back around the ground as the Dons played keepings-off football.

Scott told reporters at Aegis Park on Thursday the round one loss remained "bitterly disappointing", but said he had "no doubt" his players, particularly the midfielders, would redeem themselves against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

"I think (the Essendon loss) was uncharacteristic of the group we've put together over the last three, four, five years," Scott said.

"So we'll look at round one as a bitterly disappointing performance, but I suspect we'll give the majority of our midfield group, in particular, the chance to atone.

"That being said, we'll hold everyone very accountable for their actions. We'll give them another opportunity to get out there and get the job done. 

"But we'll be holding everyone accountable from this week onwards, that's for sure."

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The Roos' No. 1 ruckman Todd Goldstein injured his left shoulder in the first quarter against the Bombers. Although he returned in the second term and played out the game, he was clearly restricted at ruck contests.

Scans after the game cleared him of any structural damage, but Scott said Goldstein would not take on All Australian Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson if he was not fully fit.

"If he's not perfect, we won't play him," Scott said. 

"He'll do some work out on the track today and I'll watch him really closely. 

"But 'Goldy' is a survivor. Even when he's struggling he still battles through, but battling through is not going to be good enough this week." 

Goldstein trained on Thursday and participated in match simulation drills without any obvious signs of discomfort.

But Scott said North would withdraw back-up ruckman Daniel Currie from the VFL this weekend, ensuring he was ready to play against the Bulldogs if Goldstein was ruled out. 

Scott said he had been happy with his team's response on the training track this week, but expected a fierce contest from the Bulldogs on Sunday given their midfield strength. 

"They were a very good contested ball side last year and we were the best clearance side and a top-four contested ball side all year as well," Scott said. 

"So that makes for a pretty fierce contest. But to be honest that was 2013, in 2014 we're just about the worst in that area."