2012 is crunch time for the North Melbourne Football Club. After two consecutive years finishing in ninth position, the Kangaroos need to find a way into the final eight and avoid being labelled the ‘new Richmond’.

Brad Scott took a ‘finals or bust’ attitude last year, and said exemplifying the side’s renowned ‘shinboner spirit’ in close losses wasn’t good enough. This year, under the leadership of newly anointed captain Andrew Swallow, the Roo Boys are banking on a finals berth for the first time since 2008.

Last year, the season started with a horror draw, injuries and terrible form, as the young Roos lost their first four games. The main problem that afflicted North Melbourne in 2011, however, was their inability to win against top eight teams. Scott, now in his third year at the helm, drummed into his charges that it is essential to win games against finals bound teams, in order to prove that the Roos belong in the September action.

In their 11 games against teams who played finals, the Roos lost all but one. Their lone win came against Essendon in round 13. Their 10 losses included two huge losses to Collingwood; an 87 point pounding in round two and a 117 point thrashing in round 16.

The week after the demolition job completed by a rampant Magpies side, came probably the Kangaroos’ proudest moment of season 2011. North showed their trademark resilience in a win over the Western Bulldogs, proving that the young joeys had been instilled with the values of their football club.

Key Players:

This year the Roos will rely on a number of young players to take their game to the next level, including second year players Keiran Harper and Shaun Atley who have had excellent pre-seasons. The play of Andrew Swallow, Daniel Wells and Brent Harvey will again be paramount in deciding the fortunes of the Kangas.

However, the most influential player is one who enjoyed stunning return to form last season after a cruel run of injuries.

Vice-captain Drew Petrie had an outstanding year in 2011 earning All-Australian selection for the first time and is shaping up to be the Kangaroos’ most important player going into the 2012 season. ‘The Dish’, as fans call him, has been in outstanding NAB Cup form, slotting home seven goals in the Kangaroos’ final preseason hitout—a 16 point win over Carlton at Visy Park.

His return last year of 48 goals, while averaging 14 disposals and nearly seven marks per game, as well as the occasional screamer, was more than serviceable. But another big year is required to cement his position as one of the premier forwards in the league, as well as to propel his side into the final eight.

Important Games:

There are three games that stand out as markedly important in the Kangaroos fixture and they all come as the season reaches its crescendo, going into battle against three teams with which they will be jostling for a finals berth.

In round 18 the ‘Roos face Melbourne, a team they haven’t lost to since round 20 of 2006. They’ve faced the Demons on nine occasions since, winning by an average of 34 points. A win here would go a long way to creating momentum as they head toward the latter stages of the season.

The Kangaroos’ round 20 clash a fortnight later will yet again be imperative to the team’s postseason hopes. This time they will be pitted against last year’s eighth placed outfit, Essendon. Both teams match up evenly against each other and neither holds a discernible advantage over the other in recent history, so it will make for an enthralling and potentially season defining game.

Round 22 is when the worst cliche in football will likely be applied as liberally as a tube of deep heat would be in the rooms pre-game, with the contest likely to be what’s known as an ‘eight point game’. The Kangaroos host Fremantle at Etihad Stadium in the season’s penultimate round, making this another tussle that could make or break both teams’ seasons. Freo look the stronger team on paper, but the Roos’ ruck combination of Goldstein and McIntosh should at the very least be competitive against behemoth Aaron Sandilands, thus minimising the impact of what is, in most games, the Dockers’ biggest advantage.

Throughout the Kangaroos’ season minimising turnovers will be a key, especially by foot. North’s poor kicking skills in recent history pose a huge problem against top flight sides such as Geelong, Collingwood and Hawthorn who are lethal in forcing and subsequently capitalising on mistakes made by their opposition. Throw in the fact they lack a real anchor in defense and it looks like the Kangaroos will have a solid, competitive season but likely complete their hat trick, and be best of the rest for a third year on the hop.

Final Ladder position: 9th

Joel Peterson is a second year Bachelor Of Journalism (Sport) student. You can follow him on Twitter @joelbpeterson