THIS WEEKEND, Melbourne will look to bounce back from its consecutive losses, with senior coach Simon Goodwin confident in his team’s ability to improve.

Goodwin joined media on Wednesday morning to discuss his side's focuses post-bye, selection opportunities and the challenge that North Melbourne presents in Round 15.

Dip in form

“It was a great time to get away and reset,” Goodwin said. 

"We're right in the mix with a lot of teams and we've had a lot of chance to reflect about where we're at, what we need to do, how we're going to go after our game, both internally and out on the field.

"We've been really clear and been on the record to say we need to make sure we get the identity of our game back, and we feel that we will and we'll be coming in the second half of the year.

"We’re still really confident with the list we have, with the players that we've got available and that's our challenge.

"It's not about just one player, it's about a team, it's about our method and it's about the collective. That's what we need to do, is be really tight, united and come out and forge our season ahead." 

Selection talks

"[Koltyn Tholstrup] has progressed really strongly in the VFL," Goodwin said.

"He's certainly gone back and developed his game from a midfield perspective, and also forward of centre, so he's someone that we we’ll look at really closely.

"Adam Tomlinson's been in some really fantastic form both when he's been in the team, but also when he went back to VFL level.

“So, he's someone that will come back in to really balance out that backline for us, that’s certainly one change that we'll make and we'll assess everything after that.”

North Melbourne challenge

“We expect the [team] that we've seen the last two weeks. They're a much-improved footy team,” Goodwin said. 

“They're playing with enormous pressure and energy, and they've got enormous talent in their footy club.

“You can see how quickly they are improving, and they're playing some outstanding footy at the moment and challenging everyone.

“So, we certainly know what we're up against in terms of the way they play and how good they can be. We need to play to a certain level to get the result.”

BCNA’s Pink Lady match  

“It’s 20 years that we've had the BCNA game and [working] with the Breast Cancer Network Australia is something that we're really proud of,” Goodwin said.

“Today, we've got 43 players in a warm-up jersey which Zurich have given up their rights for the sponsorship, and [instead] we've got names of 43 women across their chest to honour them and bring awareness to it.

“The players individually received letters from those women, and they know who they're representing and why they're representing them, and it's a really great thing we get to do.

“We want to raise as much money as we can as it's a great service that BCNA provide.”