North Cairns paid the price for selfishness last Saturday in their loss to Saints, according to Tigers midfielder Lukas Ehlich, who confirmed teammates had been named and shamed.
They fell 10 points short of the defending AFL Cairns champions in Saturday's major semi-final and must now beat Port Douglas in this weekend's preliminary final to force a rematch in the decider.
It was an absorbing game dominated by defence and missed opportunities in difficult conditions, but Ehlich said the blame rested solely on his own team in what he describes as a complacent effort.
"We went away from our game plan and a few boys got found out," he said.
"We met on Monday and talked about how a few efforts just weren't good enough. In the end we figured out only eight blokes won their position and 14 didn't - that's not going to get you home is it?
"It was all a bit selfish - all the little things you need to do for the team weren't being done - and the boys need to realise it's about the whole club not the player."
Remarkably Matt Walsh was denied a single major after kicking a record 134 in the regular season, but Saints still found a way to make another grand final.
"It was a great battle, but I don't think either team really played to their best. You'd think keeping Walshy quiet would get you there, wouldn't you," Ehlich said.
"We weren't good enough though, but we've moved forward from there and the boys are champing at the bit to make up for it."
Norths have not played in a grand final since 2004 and were bundled out in straight sets last season by Saints and Manunda after finishing second on the ladder.
That is not lost on the club, but after finishing on top of the ladder this season they belive they are not the same side.
"We have done the work, we know we're good enough and now we've just got to go and do it," Ehlich said.
"Port are a good side, but we've got to go in confident."
They meet at 3pm on Saturday at Cazalys, with the Tigers reserves up against Saints in the reserves preliminary final from 1pm
Last Modified on 11/10/2013 15:45