TOUGH midfielder Josh Caddy will use last year's semi-final loss to North Melbourne as motivation when he lines up against the Kangaroos at Simonds Stadium on Sunday.
The Roos prevailed by six points last September, a result that condemned the Cats to a straight-sets exit from the finals.
"You never forget those losses and how disappointing it is," Caddy told a press conference on Tuesday morning.
"So I reckon there's a little bit of that feeling that you want to beat those sides you've created a rivalry with.
"Since I've been here they've beaten us a couple of times. They've been a hard side for us, and they got us in that final.
"Some guys might not use that as motivation, but I definitely do."
The Cats and Roos go into Sunday's game with 1-2 win-loss records, making the contest a particularly important match for both sides.
"North are a quality side," Caddy said. "They've had a bit of a disappointing start to the season, as have we.
"If we can come out 2-2 from this week I don't think it's too bad, considering who we've played.
"I look back to last year and Sydney were 1-3.
"If we can come out at 2-2 I think that's a good result considering we haven't played our best footy yet and our upside's massive."
There has been a noticeable buzz around the Cattery in the wake of Sunday's narrow win over Gold Coast.
The victory has been "massive" for the mood at the club, according to Caddy.
"Footy can be hard sometimes, especially mentally and especially after a couple of heavy losses," he said.
"Under the circumstances, I really proud of the way we got over the line, and there's definitely a bit of a different mood around here this week.
"We were probably expected to win the game, but early we lost Jimmy and then Stokesy and didn't have Tom Lonergan for the last quarter.
"I think it was a really meaningful win, especially for the young guys that we had.
"I thought Cory Gregson stepped up massively in the second half and Nakia [Cockatoo] ended up coming on early as a sub.
"These sort of wins, I reckon, can mean a lot to young guys and give them confidence."
A prognosis for Stokes (achilles) and Lonergan (concussion) is yet to be released by the football department.
But Bartel has been ruled out for two months after scans showed a tear in the medial ligament in his left knee.
Bartel is booked in for surgery in Melbourne on Thursday, but Caddy is confident that the 274-game veteran will bounce back.
"He'll come in and do everything right," Caddy said. "We know he's a professional, and that's why he's had such a good career.
"If anyone's going to come back and be ready to go and be just as good it will be Jimmy. He'll be fine.
"Time flies during the footy season. He'll be back in no time, I'm sure."
Bartel's absence will open the door for a young midfielder to get a call-up, with Sam Blease and Dean Gore both in the mix to line up against North Melbourne after impressing in the VFL in recent weeks.
"It's an opportunity for someone else to come in have a crack in the seniors and hopefully cement a spot," Caddy said. "That's the way I look at it."
