Veteran Robbie Tarrant is hopeful North Melbourne can build on Sunday’s performance and continue to improve throughout the year.

While the 30-year-old is pleased with the result, he knows there is still plenty of work to be done.

“Hopefully we can build on today.” Tarrant told North Media.

“It gives you a little bit of confidence, but we just know that we have to keep fronting up during the week and looking after the process of what makes us a good side.”

Tarrant was one of North’s star performers against Carlton on Sunday, keeping the highly-rated Harry McKay quiet throughout the afternoon.

McKay didn’t kick a goal or take a mark and managed just the three disposals, a strong defensive performance Tarrant puts down to his teammates higher up the ground.

“I think it’s just about the supply,” he said.

“I know they didn’t have a heap of entries, so I think it always helps when the boys put really good pressure on.”

That level of pressure was evident to those watching for the duration of the match, something that hasn’t been consistently present throughout the season so far.

“(Our pressure) was there in parts, even in the earlier rounds when we weren’t winning, but we just weren’t doing it for four quarters,” Tarrant said.

“It was great to be doing it for the majority of the game today, so we’ve got to build on that.

“I thought the boys started really well early, I think we were about 32 points up at quarter-time so we knew we just had to keep playing at that level.”

The Roos’ backline was thrown a curve-ball midway through the third quarter, with veteran tall Scott Thompson sidelined with an abductor strain.

It didn’t seem to affect the defenders, who covered for his absence relatively seamlessly.

“It probably effects Jamie Macmillan and Jasper Pittard a little bit more than me, because they probably roll over and play on a tall,” Tarrant added.

“We did ok with Scott (Thompson) off, but hopefully he’s not too bad.”