North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says there is a belief amongst the playing group that a finals appearance is still a distinct possibility.
Under caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw, the Kangaroos have recorded back-to-back wins and sit a game outside the top eight ahead of Sunday’s clash against GWS in Hobart.
While conceding the margin for error is small after their ordinary start, Goldstein is optimistic heading into the second half of the season.
“I think we would be silly not to think that (playing finals),” he told SEN Breakfast.
“It’s obviously going to be a lot of hard work and that room for error has been taken away by our poor start.
“The footy season is a funny one this year and when you think you get a handle on how teams are going or how things are going to pan out, something happens.
“We just need to keep giving ourselves the best opportunity and when it comes to the end of the season, who knows?”
Melbourne great Garry Lyon revealed some intriguing numbers that suggest North are one of the in-form teams in the competition since Round 7.
“They’re number two for points scored, number one for points from turnovers, number two for points differentiation from turnovers and time in forward-half number three,” Lyon said.
“Inside 50 differential number two, points from forward-half turnovers number one and they’ve conceded the fewest inside 50s in this time.
“Those numbers tell you that they are very much in contention. Don’t dismiss the Kangaroos.”
Listen to Todd Goldstein’s chat on SEN Breakfast with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson in the player below