NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has dismissed scathingexternal criticism of the club in the wake of yet another fadeout loss lastround, saying he has never been more confident in the club's on-field future.
Commentators savaged the Roos after they surrendered their fourth lead of more than 30 points this season against the Brisbane Lions lastSaturday night.
The criticism levelled at the Roos included claims they hadlost their 'Shinboner' identity, lacked leadership and played 'downhill'football.
Scott acknowledged on Tuesday the Roos had opened themselvesup to such criticism with their disappointing 2013 season, but said it was offthe mark.
"I respect everyone's right to an opinion (but) I don'tagree with it," he said.
"We've got some work to do, there's no doubt aboutthat. We're more acutely aware of the challenges we face than anyone else.
"Those things are very clear to us, the players know inno uncertain terms what we need to work on. But unfortunately these things taketime."
Scott specifically refuted criticism of North's on-fieldleaders, in particular suggestions Roos captain Andrew Swallow was too nice.
"I thinkAndrew Swallow is a really nice guy, he's a great guy, but he's a brutalcompetitor," Scott said.
"Levi Greenwood is a brutal competitor. Jack Ziebellwill walk over broken coals (sic) for this football club as will everyone whoruns out in our jumper on the weekend.
"No one was calling us too nice a week and a half ago.A bit of perspective is important.
"I've never been more confident in this club's futurethan right now."
Scott stressed the Roos would not resort to stop-gapmeasures in an attempt to fast-track their playing list's development, sayingthey were confident that sticking with their "up-tempo" style offootball would bring them future finals success.
"My philosophy is we want to play that style of footybecause we think it's going to beat the best teams in the competition inSeptember and that's what we're going to keep driving towards," Scott said.
"We've certainly had some lapses and mentally andphysically we've been fatigued at times, which has cost us and we've made somepoor decisions.
"But we're going to keep pushing with a philosophy of astyle of footy that's going to beat the best.
"We're not into stop-gap measures. I've never talkedabout that in the four years that I've been here at North and we're going tokeep pushing to our ultimate aim."
Scott conceded the Roos still had to learn to defend betterin games and to short-circuit opposition run-ons.
But he said a lack of fitness had not been a factor in histeam's fadeout losses, nor did he place any credence in suggestions his playerswere mentally fragile.
Scott expects North to bounce back against Carlton at EtihadStadium this Friday night, in a clash the 11th-placed Roos (6-9) must win ifthey are to keep their faint finals hopes alive.
North is sweating on the availability of five playersinjured in the Lions loss, but Scott was confident Swallow (hand) and RobbieTarrant (knee) would be fit to play against the Blues.
He said North's doctors would make a last-minute call on thefitness of Lachlan Hansen (concussion), while co-vice-captain Ziebell (knee) hadto "jump a few hurdles" and Aaron Mullett (ankle) was "touch andgo".
