NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has conceded he "overcorrected" his side's game plan in the off-season, a mistake that is now costing his side in 2014.
Last season the Kangaroos struggled defensively, particularly in final quarters, as they lost 10 games by 18 points or fewer.
In stark contrast in 2014, it is their starts that are causing most concern with Scott's side having won only two first quarters in seven games, while their offensive game has been on the slide.
In 2013 the Kangaroos were the No.3 ranked team in the League for goals kicked and the sixth best side for marks inside 50. This season, they are ranked 15th and 16th in those categories respectively.
Scott said he had inadvertently sacrificed the Roos' goal scoring ability by tightening the screws in defence.
"Potentially I, along with my coaching staff, overcorrected in the off-season," Scott told Channel Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
"We were poor defensively last year, and up until last week's game we sat second in the competition for the defensive side of the game. Striking that balance has been a real challenge for us and I take full responsibility for that.
"We want to be known as an attacking team, and I don't mean an offensive team, I mean an attacking team. A team that attacks when we haven't got the ball and attacks the contest.
"I will go away and work extremely hard on that and work with my coaches to make sure we're coaching the boys with the balance that we need."
Touted as a potential top-four contender in 2014, the Kangaroos have fallen short so far, sitting eighth with four wins for the season.
After stirring away victories against the Sydney Swans and Fremantle, North Melbourne slumped to a 43-point loss to Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Sunday that left Scott questioning the effort of his players.
"It's an indictment that you go from a really capable side one week, so it's not a talent issue or a capability issue, to a side that gets beaten because of lack of effort in a contest," he said.
"It's a bit more to do with our ball movement. Our defensive side still holds up when we haven't got the ball but it's a bit more the way we're moving the ball. When you try and fix one part, you can potentially put another part in jeopardy."
The Kangaroos have a bye this weekend, before facing the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium in a fortnight.
