ESSENDON legend Tim Watson has made a sensational claim that North Melbourne may have been whacked with one of 2016’s toughest draws because of its decision to rest players on the eve of last year’s finals.

Watson said the club may have copped nine games this year on the back of six day breaks because of its decision to rest nine players in Round 23 last year, coupled with coach Brad Scott’s combative attitude toward the AFL.

“Apparently the AFL were less than impressed with what North Melbourne did on the eve of the finals last year,” Watson said on SEN this morning.

“You just try and join the dots sometimes.

“He’s (Scott) upset people in the highest office of the AFL from time to time.

“And he did again this year too, so you can only imagine … what sort of a draw they’re going to get next year.”

Nick Dal Santo, Jarrad Waite, Michael Firrito, Andrew Swallow, Shaun Higgins, Todd Goldstein, Sam Wright, Ben Cunnington and Scott Thompson were all left out of the Roos Round 23 side that lost to Richmond on the eve of the finals last year.

Watson joked the Roos would be playing all their home games in China next year.

He said the moral of the story was “do not take on city hall”.

Watson expected North to play “right on the edge” against Collingwood on Friday night.

“I think everybody’s on notice there,” he said.

“In the review, there was a little bit of anger. Obviously, they’ve got to fix the problems and the things that are going wrong in the way they are playing right now.

“I think they are going to be right on the edge when they play tomorrow night, which is why I’m tipping North Melbourne.”

The AFL brought in a bye after Round 23 and before finals this season, following last year’s debacle.