Roo's painful learning curve

Leigh Adams suffers a season-ending shoulder injury against Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Herald Sun

LEIGH Adams was hurting in more ways than one when he watched North Melbourne's 2012 season end with a 96-point elimination final loss to West Coast.

He was tucked up on his couch in Melbourne and the pain he suffered from watching the fade-out to what had been such a season of good achievement mirrored the pain he had in his shoulder.

Adams had just had "bone block" surgery on his left shoulder. And he knew that within a month he was going to have the same thing happen to his right one - the one that Chris Judd wrenched back in a "chicken wing" tackle.

"It wasn't the best experience," Adams said this week from the Kangaroos' training camp to Utah.

"It was disappointing to see the way the boys got smashed the way they did. But it was probably a good learning curve to show we are still a fair way off the pace and need to keep improving.

"There was a bit of talk in the week after whether it was the best thing for us to make the finals, but I think it just showed us what we have to do to.

"If that sort of thing doesn't drive you to go out and have a big pre-season and come back better, then you shouldn't be out there."

AFL Round 6 - West Coast Eagles vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, Patersons Stadium, Perth. PICTURED- Eagle Josh Hill celebrates a goal in the final term. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: Herald Sun

Adams was one of the reasons behind the Kangaroos' outstanding second half of 2012 resurrection.

The consistent, hard-nut midfielder played a key role in lifting the Roos off the canvas after a slow start.

But just as the club was progressing towards its first finals berth since 2008, his shoulders gave out.

In the Round 18 game against Melbourne, he again had shoulder issues, but this time it would end his season.

"It was pretty frustrating to play most of the season (18 games) and see your team get on a good run and play finals footy, but you are not a part of it," he said.

"To not be a part of the finals was pretty shattering. I've still never played in one."

Adams, 24, has played 62 games for North Melbourne since coming onto the rookie list in 2007. He played two games that season - in Rounds 4 and 5 - but did not play in the club's three finals.

He missed the entire season with a knee injury the following year, costing him a final.

To not be a part of the finals was pretty shattering. I've still never played in one.

Cruelly, injury meant he missed out again this year, but Adams is adamant his finals luck will change - and that the double shoulder surgeries will mean they will stand firm in 2013.

"We want to play finals footy next year, for sure," Adams said. "We know we have to keep improving to keep up with the other clubs.

"But we have a good group of about 35 players who can step in and good teams have great depth.

"The young blokes will have natural improvement and we've been able to add some new players since the end of the season."

North Melbourne midfielder Leigh Adams tries to break Richmond Steven Morris's tackle at the MCG. Picture: Getty Images Source: Herald Sun

Adams insists his shoulders will be fine next year, saying the 'bone block' surgery means they should not cause him trouble as they did this season.

"You do lose a little range in the highest point of your arm, which isn't going to affect me too much with my high marking," he joked.

"But if I do my rehab properly, I should be right to do the competitive stuff after Christmas and will be right to go in the NAB Cup and Round 1."

Adams said the Kangaroos' third trip to Utah had been a success, with the club enjoying the experience as well as getting in some quality training.

"It's been tough, but we have had three or four days where we have been eased into it before being smashed," he said.

"You ask anyone who comes to Utah and they talk about the beautiful scenery, but we get to see a fair bit of the ground because we are working so hard.

"But we know how important it is for us in terms of what we want to achieve next year."

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