20/05/2008 2:38:32 PM
North Melbourne must get back to winning the hard football if it is to survive a taxing six-week block of matches which begins with the unbeaten Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
That is the opinion of a man who has made his name in the clinches over the past decade, Roos skipper Adam Simpson.
The Kangaroos face the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome in Sunday's twilight clash before meetings with Brisbane (Gabba), Geelong (Telstra Dome), Fremantle (Subiaco), Hawthorn (MCG) and St Kilda (Carrara).
Simpson said if North could learn from the Bulldogs it could come out of the make-or-break period with its season well and truly alive.
The 32-year-old said the catalyst for the improvement in Rodney Eade's side was obvious.
"It's their contested ball. They are ranked second in the competition now," Simpson explained on Tuesday at Arden Street.
"I don't know where they were ranked last year but when we played them last year it was probably an advantage on our behalf."
"We've probably dropped off in that area and they have increased so we're going to have to at least match them in that area otherwise they will smash us."
Simpson did not shy away from the enormity of the coming weeks.
"We've probably beaten the teams we've meant to have beaten and fallen short with Adelaide and Hawthorn," he said.
"The Doggies are in great form. We have got a really tough six weeks coming up, we are playing some top teams."
"You have to win a few of these. Between third and 14th (on the ladder) is not much and if you win the close ones you are in the hunt."
"If you lost the close ones - even looking at Fremantle, they've come close - you do fall away pretty quickly."
The Kangaroos have had the wood over the Bulldogs in recent times, winning the past three matches between the two teams.
Daniel Wells (knee) is likely to prove his fitness for the Indigenous Round clash, but Alan Obst has already been ruled out.
Obst, who debuted against West Coast on Saturday night, was unable to fly back with the team after the win due to a punctured lung.
Simpson said the youngster 'celebrated' his 21st birthday on Monday and was driving back to Melbourne on Tuesday.
"A punctured lung and a few broken ribs in your first game, it's not the greatest memory," Simpson sympathised.
"He'll be OK. He's only three or four weeks away. Not a great spot to spend your 21st."