DIMINUTIVE Kangaroo Nathan Hrovat has gone from almost being dropped to playing what coach Brad Scott hailed as his best game for his new club inside a fortnight.
Only teammate Shaun Higgins' strained hamstring spared Hrovat the axe last week, with the former Western Bulldog earning a late reprieve for the trip west to face Fremantle.
The 175cm midfielder's response was impressive – a 21-touch, one-goal effort against the Dockers, before adding 22 disposals and two majors in Saturday night's success over Gold Coast.
The first of those two goals came with a touch of controversy, with Hrovat receiving a free kick after Suns defender Sean Lemmens bumped him into the behind post.
Lemmens' bump was adjudged to be 'in the back', a decision that drew much bemusement from Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade in his post-match media conference.
Hrovat, who turns 23 in June, played 30 games in four years for the Bulldogs, but cruelly missed last year's fairytale premiership when he was left out of the side for good from their first final.
A new start has presented greater opportunity and he has played every game this season for Scott's new-look North Melbourne squad.
"It's unbelievable," Hrovat told AFL.com.au of the Kangaroos' first win of the season.
"We've worked so hard and the last couple of games we've shown we've had a really good pre-season, but just haven't got the results (until Saturday night).
"It's really exciting and it's a great group of guys … so hopefully going forward we can show what we've got."
Hrovat is averaging a tick under 20 disposals for North, but his work without the ball was what left him on the chopping block.
"It was just team structure stuff and a little bit of stuff with my game defensively, so I've gone back and worked on that and tried to improve on that part," he said.
"I guess you've just got to play it week by week.
"When I got the call-up (for the Freo match), I just had to get into game mode straight away and put my best foot forward.
Hrovat, who was the No.21 pick in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, battled ankle and shoulder injuries last year, but completed his first full pre-season after moving to Arden Street.
