After the rigours of the first half of an AFL season, the bye can provide players a chance to refresh, re-assess and launch an assault on the remaining games.

For North, that theory has certainly rung true in recent years.

In fact, the Roos are one of just five clubs to have reached the finals after sitting outside the top eight heading into the bye, back in 2012.

In that year, Brad Scott’s team had a remarkable turnaround after the mid-season break; coming off a 115-point loss to Hawthorn in round 10, and a 4-6 win-loss record, North claimed the points in 10 of its last 12 games to finish the season in eighth position.

Statistically, it was the best turnaround for a team following the bye.

In 2013, the scenario going into the break was even more damning. North sat 13th on the table with four wins from 11 games, before finishing the season strongly with a 55 per cent win/loss record coming home. It just missed the finals.

The Roos were at four wins and three losses ahead of their round eight bye in 2014, before going ten and five over the final 15 rounds.

Interestingly, from 2012-2014, North has won two of its three games immediately following the bye and is yet to face a team coming off a rest in those games. That trend will continue against the Suns on Saturday.

On Tuesday, midfielder Sam Gibson spoke of the significance of the break.

“It’s really important (to have a rest). We’ve got three months ahead of us, hopefully more, so it’s just a mental break," Gibson told NMFC.com.au.

“Physically I think we get enough work throughout the week to get ourselves up, but just mentally to be able to go away and not have to worry about preparing for a game, that’s really the main refresher.”

Will the winning trend continue? All will be revealed at Metricon Stadium.

Statistics courtesy of Champion Data.