North's seventh win on end constituted the club's longest winning streak since 1999, when the Roos won 10 games straight early in the season, then another eight on the trot, the last of those delivering a grand final victory over Carlton.

Which isn't to say the Roos are about to emulate that effort. But their seven-game stretch this time around looks a bulwark of consistency compared to what came before.

The Roos alternated from win to loss, loss to win over 11 of the first 14 rounds this season, the only departure from that pattern consecutive victories over Richmond then Essendon followed immediately by two losses to Fremantle and Collingwood.

North's draw certainly allowed Brad Scott's team to play itself back into steadier form, none of the first half-dozen opponents in the current winning run sides currently in the top eight. And the cumulative building of confidence paid off big time in the win over the Dockers.

Not only are the Roos secure in the eight, they're still a rough chance of a top four finish, the double chance achievable if they manage to beat the Western Bulldogs and Richmond this week and next, while Sydney stumbles against either of St Kilda or Gold Coast.

In retrospect, there may have been a touch too much bloodlust for the Roos a couple of months back, despite their 55-point drubbing at the hands of Gold Coast having left them at 6-7 and in 11th spot, a game-and-a-half outside the top eight.

The loss to the Suns looks more an aberration now, even compared to their earlier form, five of their defeats coming at the hands of top eight teams, and another to Port Adelaide early on when the Power was in pretty good nick.

That said, there's no doubt North Melbourne are playing a far better brand than they were, the proof of the pudding in the numbers. And the loss to the Suns has been a major turning point on several levels.

After missing four games with a back complaint, Scott returned to his coaching position in the week leading up to the round 15 game against Geelong. He made an immediate statement, dropping an out-of-sorts Lindsay Thomas, and forcing Brent Harvey to wear the substitute's vest.

Scott has been notably less patient with a host of other players since then, also, the changes to the 22 each week more regular than North had come to expect and the pressure to perform more intense.

At both ends of the ground, the Roos look a lot stronger than they had over the first half of the season. In defence, North conceded an average 95 points per game in their first 13 matches, a ranking of 13th. In seven games since, it's been just 71 points, for a ranking of third.

The return of Lachie Hansen from injury and continued improvement of Robbie Tarrant has helped, as have smaller defenders Sam Wright and Shaun Atley, but no more significant than the tremendous form of evergreen Michael Firrito, has played on talls and smalls alike with aplomb.

It's the forward set-up, however, where the most spectacular gains have been made, North's 94 points against Freo the first time in five games they failed to reach the ton.

The Roos since round 15 have ranked equal second for scores, going at nearly 112 points per game. But it's not just the goals kicked, it's the efficiency with which they're being kicked, and the defensive pressure being applied close to goal that's made a big difference.

While Drew Petrie's defensive game has always been good, Jarrad Waite has also responded to that challenge, while the smaller battery of Shaun Higgins, Harvey and Robin Nahas have all helped the Roos ranking of second over the last seven games for scores from turnovers.

In terms of conversion, things could scarcely look any better, North over that period third for accuracy, but a clear No.1 for both marks inside 50 and scores from inside 50 entries. With two games remaining, seven North players have already kicked 20 goals or more this season. Last year, even after three finals, only four had that many.

It all adds up to a North Melbourne perhaps even better equipped to take on the challenges of September than last year's version. And clearly one in far better shape to do so than the Roos of only a couple of months ago.