Ben Jacobs has taken some big scalps playing as a tagger this season, but none come bigger than the game’s best midfielder, Docker Nat Fyfe.

If he’s handed the job on the Brownlow favourite come Sunday at Etihad Stadium, he knows he’ll have his work cut out.

“We haven’t discussed it this early in the week, but if I did, it would be one of the biggest challenges this year,” Jacobs said.

“He’s the in-form on-baller this year and he’s a great player, whether I go to him, I’m not sure at this stage, but they’ve got a lot of good midfielders.”

Jacobs said the bitter memories of North’s loss to the top of the ladder Dockers in Round 8 are still fresh.

“They are a quality side and they beat us convincingly earlier in the year but we’ll try and rebound and try and have a win,” the 23-year-old said.

“(There is) a lot to learn from last time, (but) our game has changed from that last time. They did whack us pretty easily over there, so it will be a great test.”

While Jacobs has received plenty of plaudits for shutting down dangerous players, he credits the work of the entire midfield group.

“I’m starting to get a good relationship with the other on-ballers and they are helping me out as well. It’s a team effort when you come up against any opponent. It’s not just a one-on-one battle and (playing with) the likes of (Ben) Cunnington, (Jack) Ziebell and (Andrew) Swallow, these guys going through the midfield are really helping me in that role.

“I’m learning every week when I do it – different players, different styles, different opposition – I’m enjoying the role and loving that I’m playing a role for the team.”

With September action drawing closer but still no certainty, Jacobs said everyone at Arden St knows there’s plenty of work to do.

“Our destiny is in our control. We’ve got (to play) three sides that are above us on the ladder and we’re excited to play them and it will really be a good test. The ladder is all over shop at the moment, so we’ve just got to concentrate on the next three games, even though it’s cliché.

“I feel like we are trying to improve every week, I don’t think we’ve got through a week yet where Brad hasn’t given us a bake at some point in the game. We’re striving as a team to get that four quarter effort.”

“You can’t have a lapse in a quarter and let a team jump you like St Kilda did on the weekend because you can’t peg that back against the big sides, so we’re looking for that consistency and hopefully it comes.”