The experts were quick to hop off the North bandwagon after a shaky end to the season last year, but former AFL great Chris Judd is sticking fat and loves what he sees down at Arden Street.

“Every time I watch the Kangaroos play, they look extremely well organised with a team that is sticking to the system they're trying to implement,” Judd said in his column for The Age.

“They've added leg speed into their team over the last couple of years, with players such as Marley Williams, Nathan Hrovat, Jy Simpkin and Jed Anderson among others giving them an increased ability to transition around the ground.”

North’s latest win, a ten-goal victory over the highly fancied Crows, resulted in high praise from Judd.

“North have lost three games by less than a goal this year, add to that two wins in a row – including their demolition on Sunday of the red-hot Crows – and their form line looks good … it does seem reasonable to conclude that their form is better than has been widely recognised.”

Judd said Robbie Tarrant, Jack Ziebell, Todd Goldstein, Ben Brown and Ben Cunnington are All-Australian quality but were not widely appreciated.

“All have improved consistently over the last few years to become consistent performers at a very high level, and all except for Goldstein are still underrated outside the walls of Arden Street.” 

Although still a work in progress being a young and inexperienced side, Judd said the sky is the limit for North in the coming seasons provided the side works on one particular area.

“Foot skills are the next skillset where improvement is required if they are to decrease the gap between them and the very best sides.

“Along with field kicking, a top end that can compete with any club, is the missing piece of the jigsaw if the Kangaroos are to push back into top four contention in the coming years.”