NORTH Melbourne coach Dean Laidley feels the Kangaroos did the hard work last year and are now ready to improve on their third-place finish.

North rocketed from 14th spot  to third on the AFL ladder last year despite missing key forward Nathan Thompson and Laidley is optimistic the charge can continue.

They will begin their campaign on Monday against Essendon, which has been re-configured under new coach Matthew Knights.

Laidley believes last year's big move should make taking another step this season easier.

"I would have thought it would have been more difficult to come from where we finished the previous year to where we finished last year (than) to take the next step," Laidley said.

"We've prepared very well, we've given everything our full attention and that's all we can do, and then front up. As long as we give ourselves a platform to perform.

"We'd like to think that physically our times are better and we're a bit stronger.

"The eight or nine younger guys that we played last year, they've had their second pre-season so you'd like to think that they're better prepared.

"At this stage physically we are (better) but you are really going into the unknown.

“You're at the starting line and everyone's had a terrific pre-season so it is the great unknown."

Laidley rejects a widespread view that last year was a one-off performance which will be difficult to maintain, let alone build on.

"That type of thing is guesses, maybe educated guesses or uneducated guesses," he said.

"But they're guesses and we don't get caught up in trying to win the mind games or the head battle.

"It's hard enough to win the battle out on the ground and that's all we can focus on."

Thompson was the Kangaroos' leading goalkicker in 2005-06 but missed the entire 2007 season because of a serious knee injury.

He is now fully recovered but the side re-worked its forward line last year and Laidley said Thompson's former role was now obsolete.

"He's had a pretty good preparation and he's a part of our forward line," Laidley said.

"It's great to have him back but he certainly won't be our focus in the forward line."

Laidley said Thompson would now have to slot in alongside Aaron Edwards, David Hale, Corey Jones and Drew Petrie.

"If he can play his role and be a part of that side we'll be very happy," he said.