NORTH Melbourne's thrashing of Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Saturday is proof that the Kangaroos have what it takes to be competitive in September, says coach Brad Scott.

With his side sitting outside the top eight only on percentage, Scott said it was doing everything right to qualify for the finals and go in with form.

"Our guys played fantastic footy today and I think we've been putting things in place and making small inroads into the footy that is going to be capable of winning finals," he said.

"Today was another step on that path. It was really pleasing to get a result like that and I thought the guys were fantastic."

The game was played at the same time as another finals-defining match between the Sydney Swans and Hawthorn - both of whom are vying with North for a finals position.

Scott admitted to keeping one eye on the SCG match, which was won convincingly by the Swans.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't glance at it at one stage. If Carlton and Sydney keep winning then we've got to keep winning. We can't worry too much about what they want to do," he said.

"That game was a step in the right direction to playing finals standard football. We have still got a fair way to go in my opinion to playing a meaningful path against September sides."

A highlight of North's 54-point victory was veteran Brady Rawlings' ability to keep Fremantle young gun Stephen Hill to just seven touches while collecting 39 of his own.

Scott, who frequently took on the game's superstars in his playing career with the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn, said Rawlings' performance was fantastic.

"It's one of the more outstanding run with roles I've ever seen," he said. "I've seen some pretty good ones.

"Hill went into defence and I was pretty keen for Brady to go with him.

"To really dominate like that against Stephen Hill, who is going to be a superstar of the competition - he's well on his way to that level already.

"He's just so damaging for them and not only did Brady nullify his influence, he was terrific for us offensively as well."

The Kangaroos had a massive 491 possessions with 15 players gathering 20 or more, and Scott said the high tally was testament to his side's fitness.

"It is something that pleases me because it suggests that now we're starting to develop a side that is capable of covering the ground a bit better," he said.

"Probably at the start of the year we didn't have a midfield capable of covering that sort of ground. That is the pleasing aspect of that high-possession count."