NORTH Melbourne remains confident its best football is good enough to compete with the best teams, coach Brad Scott says.
Scott was speaking after North's 39-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday at the MCG, a game in which the Roos allowed the reigning premier to jump out to a 46-point lead at quarter-time.
North fought back to get to within 13 points midway through the third term, but did not kick a goal after that to slump to its eighth loss from the 11 games since it opened the season with a club-record 9-0 run.
The Roos have also lost the past seven games they have played against top-eight teams, their only two wins against forthcoming 2016 finalists coming against Adelaide in round one and the Western Bulldogs in round six.
North's slump means it could even miss the finals if St Kilda wins its last three games.
However, Scott told reporters on Saturday there was still a sense of positivity at North.
"There are some things to look forward to, that's for sure in terms of both personnel and opportunity," Scott said.
"There's still a real unflinching belief that our best can compete with the best and once you get to September who knows."
TALKING POINTS: Hawthorn v North Melbourne
North has been hard hit by injury since round seven, with Sam Wright (ankle), Shaun Higgins (knee), Ben Jacobs (foot), Luke McDonald (hamstring) and Kayne Turner (hamstring) all sidelined for lengthy stints.
Scott said those five players and key forward Jarrad Waite (hip) were all due to return shortly, but North would have to carefully manage their returns.
"There's a whole slew of guys who are around about the same mark in their rehabilitation: Sam Wright, Luke McDonald, Ben Jacobs, Shaun Higgins, Kayne Turner and Jarrad Waite," Scott said.
"So whether they're right to go next week or another couple of weeks we'll have to have a close look at that, particularly because there's such a large group of them that are all due back at the same time."
WATCH: Brad Scott's full post-match press conference
Scott was unsure whether Ben Brown (knee) and Scott Thompson would return for next Saturday's clash against the Sydney Swans at Hobart's Blundstone Arena after both were withdrawn from North's selected team a day before the Hawthorn clash.
"They were close (to playing against Hawthorn) but not quite right but I'm not sure whether that's a pointer to next week or not," the Roos coach said.
Scott said North's midfield had been "up and down" against the Hawks, but praised the efforts of Drew Petrie (three goals) and Majak Daw (six contested marks) in attack, and Robbie Tarrant (19 possesions and 10 marks) and Lachie Hansen (three contested marks) in defence.
"It was clearly Majak Daw's best game for the club. (He) looked really imposing and is really starting to feel like he belongs and understands the way that we want him to play," Scott said.
"Lachie Hansen coming back into the side after being out the whole year was really pleasing."
Scott also took the opportunity to endorse Tarrant's growing claims for a spot in this year's All Australian team.
"Most people would have had him in the All Australian team at the mid point of the year," Scott said.
"He's got better since we started losing a few games so that just speaks to how well he's played.
"Most defenders can play well when the team's dominating, but when we've been under the pump he's been an absolute rock.
"I'm biased but it's a pretty easy decision for me."
