NORTH Melbourne defender Scott Thompson's season began slowly. He had an interrupted pre-season and his form early was not at the level he had displayed in his first 50 games with the club. The back six was unsettled and Thompson appeared uncertain of the expectations upon him.

But in the last two weeks he has emerged from that mini-slump to once again become the reliable player his coach needs. Thompson however is not just returning to past efforts. He is improving.

Against the Sydney Swans he took the game on, running forward with the ball looking to move it deep into attack. He recorded six inside 50s but it was his actions when he took possession that were most telling. He did not look to move the ball backwards or switch it laterally. He ran with the ball, took on opponents and used his strength and agility to create space from himself. It helped that he rarely lost his footing, recovering the ball well after spoiling marking contests.

And he did it all against dual Brownlow medallist and Sydney Swans' star Adam Goodes. "I knew I was on Goodes if he went forward," said Thompson. "He's a great player. He can hit up (lead) and take marks in packs. He is a very good player so you just have to hope your midfield puts pressure on and it is a high kick in."

Such improvement does not just happen. Thompson is following the direction of his coaches. "We've been working on me trying to attack the ball a bit more. I sometimes go into my shell and try to get out the back so just running through the line of the ball seems to help…and help the team," he said.

Amid the disappointment of such losses acknowledging the way some players are improving is important. Having once earned a reputation as a niggling defender Thompson has left that style behind. He is a quality defender with the skills and attitude to match the good players.

The Kangaroos' defence has also performed better in recent weeks, keeping teams to an average of 72.5 points a game in the past two weeks, after conceding on average 108 points per game in the first seven matches.

Although such a matter was probably not at the top of Brad Scott's mind after the game, he was happy to praise Thompson's efforts. "The last two weeks he has been playing really good strong, proactive defence," said Scott.

That the defender who was runner-up in North Melbourne's 2009 best and fairest played so well the week after giving away a crucial 50-metre penalty in the Kangaroos loss to the Brisbane Lions is one indication that he has the sort of resilient mindset a defender needs.

Until this week he also had the type of goal scoring record that a defender takes to his grave. In 58 games he had kicked just one goal, his first score a behind against Sydney in round 15, 2010 and his first goal arriving six games later in his 49th game (against West Coast Eagles in round 21, 2010, a game in which he earned two Brownlow votes).

However within a five-minute patch late in the second quarter he kicked two goals - in the time it takes the average dad to collect his family's fish and chip order - to triple his career goals.

Thompson's second goal came after a beautiful kick on the run from the 50-metre line while his third was more fortunate, bouncing through after an ill-timed kick from a similar spot. The goals were critical, giving North Melbourne back the lead and coming against the flow of the game. 

Such was his disappointment at the result however he was hardly talking them up after the game. "One of them was the worst goal you have ever seen so that was pretty lucky. If the ball falls in your hands in the right spot, you have got to have a shot," he said.

As to whether he would gain any more confidence on a personal level from his performance, again he was pragmatic. " I haven't thought about it yet," he said. Any assessment as to what it might mean would come through his review with the coaches. "I know I have done a few things wrong in the game as well so I just have to keep trying to improve."