NORTH Melbourne coach Darren Crocker has revealed a newspaper report questioning the club played a major role in lifting the Roos to their best win of the 2009 season: a nail-biting five-point win over St Kilda at Docklands on Sunday.

Returning from what he described as the most disappointing performance of his tenure as senior coach against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco Oval last round, Crocker said he spoke to his charges about a few items in the lead up to round 21.

Playing with passion and standing up for the club were among the items discussed.  

"There was actually an article throughout the week in the Herald Sun, written by someone, who questioned the integrity of this football club and actually what this football club stood for," Crocker said post-match.

"As much as it hasn't been a great season, I don't think at any stage – under duress with injuries and experimentation – I don't think you could question these guys ever throwing the towel in".

But the 1996 premiership player hinted the win came against the odds.

"I thought for us to make six changes, coming up against a side like St Kilda on the rebound, it was always going to be an extremely tough ask," Crocker said.

Crocker spoke highly of several players. He said skipper Brent Harvey, although he had just 16 disposals, played a selfless game, and Drew Petrie and Andrew Swallow were tremendous.

"I think Andrew Swallow has had a terrific year and I know he's been a real shining light in a disappointing year," he said.

"He came off a year last year that he would've liked to forget and the way he's grown this year, he really set us alight early in the game and he continued right throughout and he's going to be a great player for this club for a long time and a great midfielder.

"The way Drewy stood up, especially at the end of the game – his work-rate was phenomenal. He just gives so much to this playing group."

He also singled out leader Brady Rawlings, who played his 200th game, and the efforts of Levi Greenwood, who kept Brownlow Medal contender Nick Dal Santo to just nine disposals.
 
"[Greenwood] has been able to get the job done every week, other than last week", Crocker said.

"But that's a learning curve in itself … to knock off one of the premier midfielders in the competition to less than 10 touches.

"That's testament to where Levi Greenwood has taken his football."

Crocker denied that the win over the 2009 minor premiers would have increased his chances of being selected as senior coach for the coming seasons had the timing of the decision to appoint Brad Scott been different.