North Melbourne have shrugged off concerns around faltering spearhead Nick Larkey, with coach Alastair Clarkson backing the Kangaroos captain to rediscover his best.
Entering Sunday's match against Essendon with just nine goals from his past six games, Larkey misfired badly with 1.5 in a scrappy 14-point win over the Bombers.
Usually a sharpshooter, the full-forward will need to find top form if the Kangaroos are a genuine shot of qualifying for wildcard weekend.
Clarkson is confident Larkey will return to his best and doesn't feel the need to talk to him about his wayward kicking.
"He's an experienced player and he's been such a reliable shot for goal, not just for our club, but across the competition," Clarkson said of Larkey.
"Everyone's allowed to have a crook day, I reckon.
"Buddy (Lance Franklin) kicked 2.11 here many years ago.
"He's usually more reliable than that so we'll just back him and he'll be better."
Larkey struggled with a PCL injury at the end of last season, and Clarkson admitted three weeks ago the 28-year-old had been playing sore.
"He's good as gold now," Clarkson said.
"We can't use that as an excuse for him.
"He didn't have the radar, but he's a pro and we'll back him in."
Already enjoying their most productive season since 2019, the Kangaroos moved to 8-7 after beating the Bombers for the second time this year.
It was the first time in seven years they have managed to win three-straight matches, albeit against the bottom-three teams on the ladder in West Coast, Richmond and Essendon.
North finished the round ninth, putting them in reach of a wildcard spot.
"We won the first three quarters, but we're only three goals up at three-quarter time," Clarkson lamented after the win against Essendon.
"You'd like to think that you put a margin on the scoreboard that makes it impossible for them to win the game at three-quarter time.
"We've got some work to do with our polish.
"If we continue to work on our game, then the wins will add up, and then we'll get closer to wildcard and finals later in the year."
North will travel to face Port Adelaide next Sunday, with the Power likely buoyed by their memorable Showdown upset of Adelaide.
