AVOIDING the 'lapses' that saw North Melbourne end the home and away season in eighth spot last year will be a focus in 2016, Kangaroos forward Jarrad Waite says.

The Kangaroos won just six of their first 13 games last season before winning seven in a row and then their first two finals.

They were eventually eliminated in the preliminary final for the second season in succession.

The 32-year-old said the disappointment of losing last year's preliminary final was providing motivation and he "reflects on it every second day".

He said those players who were over 30 were aware they had to make every post a winner in 2016 as time ticked on their careers.

"I think it makes us more determined to really want to have a good year and probably not have the lapses we had last year," Waite said. 

"I know that has been a big focus of ours, and it's just going to a really challenging year for everyone, but it is going to be exciting."

Recruited from Carlton via free agency, he kicked 42 goals in his first season with the Kangaroos and starred in the first two finals.

He is likely to play two NAB Challenge games in preparation for the season, but with his wife Jackie due to give birth to their first child in March, it's up in the air which matches they will be.

Waite said he was realistic about being closer to the end of his career than the start, but whether he played on beyond 2016 would depend on how his body held up.

"It's one of those things. I'll see how it goes during the year and whatever happens happens," Waite said.   

Waite said competition for spots among the club's tall forwards would be fierce with Aaron Black and Majak Daw capable of replacing him, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown in the Kangaroos attack. 

"It's so competitive these days. It's good. You can't really have a down session," Waite said. 

"You know this year if you have a bad game you are probably going to sit out the next week."