After winning its last two games against the Suns and the ladder leading Crows, North Melbourne is on the way up according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Anderson.

The veteran journo believes there’s more light at the end of the tunnel after the club was forced to endure the hardest draw in the league between Rounds 1 to 7.

“Based on where teams are on the ladder at the moment, the Kangaroos could come home with a wet sail,” Anderson said.

“Before you write North Melbourne off as a top eight contender, it may pay to take a closer look at what’s in front of them.

“Brad Scott’s team has played the top five teams on the ladder but none of the bottom six.”

Those teams were Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Geelong, West Coast, and the Western Bulldogs.

“They don’t play another game against a top-four team and have 10 games against rivals now placed ninth to 18th,” he added.

Champion data has ranked North’s run between Rounds 8 to 23 the easiest in the AFL based on current ladder positions.

“The Roos have just five games against top-eight teams, including two against St Kilda,” Anderson reported.

“By comparison, West Coast plays four against fellow top-four teams and eight against teams in the eight.

“It means North Melbourne’s 2-5 start doesn’t look so bad, particularly as three of those losses were by one, three and five points.”