Instead it sits two wins outside of the eight.
But ruckman Todd Goldstein says the Roos won't fall into the trap of pondering what might have been.
Instead, as they prepare for a crunch encounter with Adelaide on Sunday, they're using near-misses against heavyweights Hawthorn, Geelong and West Coast as inspiration for what they can still make of their season.
"You could spend a lot of time wishing you could be top four if this had have happened or the ball had have bounced that way," Goldstein told AAP.
"But it just gives us great confidence in everything the coaches and staff have been telling us, that we are heading in the right direction.
"If we stick with what we've been doing, the wins will come."
Goldstein admitted last round's after-the-siren loss to the Eagles was initially shattering.
But the distraction of a timely club golf day on Wednesday helped brighten the mood, as did the space of a few days to gain perspective.
"We get what we deserve, so if we do everything right we will get the wins," Goldstein said.
After facing pressure for his spot from recruit Dan Currie in the pre-season, Goldstein's own season start has been impressive.
He says Majak Daw's step up to the AFL since round four has made his job easier, given the high-leaping Sudanese big man's stints in the ruck.
Goldstein had previously been reluctant to spend much time up forward and let Drew Petrie pinch-hit in the ruck given Petrie's enormous importance to North's attack.
"Last year I played a few games 100 per cent in the ruck and it definitely takes a toll," he said.
"The last three or four weeks since Majak's been in - definitely I've run out games better."
Goldstein is confident an improved North midfield can hold its own against a Crows brigade studded with stars such as Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane and Richard Douglas.
And he knows the Kangaroos can't afford another near-miss.
"At 3-5 we can't afford to drop too many games, especially to the teams around us," Goldstein said.
"It is important. Every game's important now when you don't quite win those games early and you lose by under a kick."
