For us at North Melbourne, we’ve also been subjected to stinging remarks, cutting accusations and widespread criticism. 

Chokers. Gutless. Weak. Shameful.

That’s just a small sample of what I’ve heard and the rest cannot be printed in this column.

We have won eight of nine first quarters so far this year and only three final terms.

Our one-point loss to Adelaide was the straw that broke the camel’s back and boy have we copped it – and rightly so.

On Monday, we had a two-hour long match review which was one of the most brutal and confronting I’ve ever been a part of. Brad Scott pulled no punches and we were all laid bare in the theatrette at the club. 

The leaders in particular were told in no uncertain terms that we have to take more responsibility for what goes on out on the field in those tight games. 

We have to lead by example and not only worry about our own games, but those of our younger team-mates too.

We all needed to stand up and be counted when it mattered – but none of us did and we have to cop that.

Brad himself has shouldered a hell of a lot of responsibility too and he’s always the first to say the buck stops with him. But in those final minutes on Sunday, what could he possibly do from level two at Etihad Stadium? He’s a tremendous supporter of the players, but I think he was right to slam us in the post match media conference.

Brad was frustrated because we had trained specifically for those types of scenarios before and for some reason, we all went away from the plan and started doing our own thing – it was a fatal mistake and Crows took full advantage.

We had players out of position when the Crows began to surge. There was a complete lack of accountability and it was simply unacceptable. 

They ran riot and made us look second rate in a game we thought we were in control of.

We let the club and our supporters down big-time. We got cocky. We were complacent.

The past greats have come out to lash us. Wayne Carey and David King were scathing in the media and there have been questions asked about our mental toughness. So there should be.

But rather than have me dwell too much on what went wrong, you’re probably wondering what do we plan to do to fix it.

From the outside, I acknowledge it must look like our club has a massive issue with pressure and tight games. Why is it that we keep failing when team’s come hard at us in the final stages?

Well, the good thing is; we know exactly what we’ve done wrong and it’s nothing we can’t fix.

This week, the boxing gloves were out at training – just like they used to be in the good old days. 

We belted the crap out of each other for a few minutes and then competed hard on the track and set out to prove to Brad that we had learned out lesson.

But nothing will convince anyone that we are a legitimate finals contender or that we have the mental resilience and ability to compete until the final siren until we do it over, and over and over again.

There’s a massive amount of pride riding on our match against the Saints and the proof will be in the pudding.

Mark my words, we will come out all guns blazing for Brent Harvey in his 350th game and Daniel Wells in his 200th – but most importantly, we will do it for the jumper because we have some making up to do.