NORTH Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh admits his side will carry a year-long grudge into Saturday night's clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

It was in round 22 last season that the Power ruined the Roos' top-four prospects with a 76-point belting at the MCG; something that has already been revisited at Arden Street this week.

The 10th-placed Power dashed their finals chances with last round's loss to the Brisbane Lions, but McIntosh said there would be some enjoyment in adding to their disappointment.

"We've always had a good rivalry with Port Adelaide," he said. "It's a little something extra we've taken into this week.

"We know what Port Adelaide did to us in round 22 and they knocked us over in the finals in '07 and '05. It would be good to have a good win against them over there and take that experience and confidence into next year.

"We'll be trying pretty hard to get up over the line."

Round seven's narrow triumph over the Power at Docklands is one of just six wins for the Roos in a frustrating season, though McIntosh said the five-point upset of ladder leader St Kilda provided a boost he expected to be long-lasting.

He acknowledged the post-match emotion of his coaches and teammates in the rooms on Sunday and added that the victory highlighted what the Roos were still capable of.

"We came into the year setting ourselves to play finals again like we have the last two years," he said.

"Obviously results haven't fallen our way and things have happened, so it's been a disappointing year. The win on the weekend against St Kilda has shown a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

"How we played, our fighting spirit, the way we tackled, our pressure and the way we used the ball was seen as an improvement and if we can take that into next year with a fair bit of confidence, I think that can go a long way to us getting back in the finals."

However, McIntosh has found his own success in 2009 – playing every game and sitting third in the competition for total hit-outs (500).

The 24-year-old said he had paid little thought to his All-Australian prospects or his chances of winning his first best-and-fairest award.

McIntosh made the All-Australian preliminary squad of 40 players following his breakout 2007 season.

"Obviously last year was disappointing for a lot of reasons – form and injury," he said. "It was great to bounce back this year with a full pre-season under my belt.

"This year there have been some other really good ruckmen going around as well. If it did happen that I got in the squad, it would be a great honour.

"It's probably something to think about when the season finishes and you reflect back on it."
McIntosh confirmed he was yet to meet incoming coach Brad Scott but said that would happen next week.