North Melbourne are the highest scoring team in the AFL competition, having kicked 74 goals in their opening four games of the 2016 season.
The Kangaroos have seven players averaging better than a goal per game, led by key forwards Jarrad Waite (16 goals) and Ben Brown (8) as well as the evergreen Brent Harvey (12).
With Todd Goldstein (7 goals), Drew Petrie (5) and the likes of Shaun Higgins, Lindsay Thomas, Sam Gibson and Jack Ziebell also impacting the scoreboard, North are a dangerous proposition for every defence that comes up against them.
For the Gold Coast SUNS this week, the challenge will be made that much harder with key defenders Steven May (suspended) and Rory Thompson (ankle) both crucial absentees for the home side.
READ: Match preview: SUNS v North
Despite May and Thompson missing, defender Adam Saad is confident in the club’s depth to cover the missing members of the team’s spine.
“We feel like we’ve got some depth to cover and whoever the players that come in we know they’re going to play their role,” Saad told SUNS TV.
“But it’s going to be a back six collective, it’s going to be a group thing. We have to help each other out and if we can play as one on the day, I think it will go a long way as well to winning the game or coming close to it.”
Saad has established himself as one of the more exciting rebounding defenders in the competition, leading the AFL in running bounces across the first four rounds.
But the former Coburg Lion is also capable of playing a lockdown role, demonstrated in the NAB Challenge with a masterclass performance on All Australian Eddie Betts.
WATCH: Saad catches elusive Eddie
The 21-year-old is happy to play any role the coaches deem fit, with an emphasis on living up to the standards the club and his teammates demand.
“Whatever role Rocket or the coaches give me I’m more than happy to do,” he said.
“If it’s to shutdown or do whatever I’m happy. We’ve just got to play the foundation footy and the brand we know we can play and just bring it up to North this week.”
