NORTH Melbourne is still searching for answers on why it remains so inconsistent in coach Brad Scott's sixth year at the helm, but star veteran Brent Harvey is confident the Roos can finish the 2015 season strongly.
After being widely tipped for a top-four finish in 2015, North sits 11th on the ladder after 14 rounds with a 6-7 record and is coming off an extremely disappointing 55-point loss to Gold Coast last Saturday.
Although the Roos have defeated finals contenders West Coast, Richmond, Geelong and Greater Western Sydney this year, their renowned inconsistency under Scott has been evident in beltings by Hawthorn, Fremantle and Adelaide and their disastrous fadeout loss to Collingwood.
Comment: North Melbourne is the great pretender
Harvey told reporters on Tuesday the club's review of the Gold Coast loss had revealed some fundamental problems that had plagued North in the past.
But the five-time best-and-fairest winner was confident North could fix those problems in time for Saturday night's clash against Geelong.
"Everything is fixable for us. We sit back on a Monday and watch the review and everything in the review we've got control over," Harvey said.
"That's the beauty of it and that's why we're at training today and we'll be at training tomorrow, to improve those things.
"Going forward hopefully we can improve those things and you'll see a better outfit against the Cats on Saturday night.
"I'm always confident that we'll bounce back. When we've got our backs against the wall we probably play our best football like that.
"But for our supporters we'll be bouncing back, we'll finish off the year well and we'll go from there."
Harvey said North would never be "a really good team" if it could not get the basics right consistently, admitting he did not know why the Roos' form continued to fluctuate so wildly.
"If I had the answer maybe Brad wouldn't have a job," Harvey said light-heartedly.
"Is it a mindset? Is it attitude? I'm sure it's not our game plan or anything like that, so it's a hard one.
"When you know you're not kicking well you can go out and train it and improve it, but the inconsistency is a tough one to put your finger on."
Harvey, 37, is set to become just the fourth person in VFL/AFL history to play 400 games when North takes on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 17.
The four-time All Australian said he planned to play on next season, but would wait until about round 16 or 17 to make a final decision.
"Right now I would love to say, 'Yep, go on'. Does that change in four weeks? I'm not too sure," Harvey said.
"(But) just the way the body and the mind is right now I'm ready to go for sure."
Harvey has played every game this season – he has not missed a game through injury since 2009 – and his form has certainly been good enough to play on.
The old Roo has also shown this year he can still learn new tricks, having been successfully deployed across half-back earlier in the season.
The long-time forward/midfielder admitted playing in the backline had been an adjustment but said he enjoyed the challenge.
"It's been challenging. Defending probably wasn't my (strongest) suit early on in my career, so it's been great to work with a different coach in Josh Drummond," he said.
"I'm always up for a challenge and you learn a little bit about how the backs need to go about it as well.
"I've enjoyed my football immensely this year. We just probably need to win a few more games for me to really enjoy it."
