Scott says Roos can get jump on Sydney

A YEAR is a long time in football.

Twelve months after falling 71 points short of Sydney in a preliminary final, the Kangaroos fly to the Harbour City today looking to turn the tables and earn themselves another preliminary final berth.

A lot has changed, North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said, and he was confident his team were hitting their straps at the prime time of the year.

“We’re definitely better,” Scott said yesterday. “We’re physically prepared better than we were this time last year, and a lot of our players have now had good finals experience.

“Our preparation has always been geared towards being at our best at this time of year and we feel we’re very close to it.”

The Swans beat North by 16 points at Etihad Stadium in Round 11, but last year the Kangaroos won by 43 points at the SCG in Round 4.

Scott said the team had learnt from those games – and last year’s finals heartbreak – to ensure they were better placed to win at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night.

Scott said that while Swans star Lance Franklin being ruled out was an advantage for North, whoever covered for him could not be ignored.

“The strength of the Sydney Swans over a generation has been their ability to compete really hard regardless of the 22 that represent them each week,” he said.