NORTH Melbourne has bounced back from three successive defeats, staving off a back-from-the-dead Brisbane Lions to win by 16 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Roos eventually won 17.10 (112) to 15.6 (96), but the Lions kicked nine of the last 11 goals of the match.

After surrendering a 32-point lead to Port Adelaide in the last quarter at AAMI Stadium last week - an effort labeled 'a disgrace' by coach Brad Scott - the Kangaroos again established a seemingly insurmountable lead only to suffer some serious jitters.
 
The Roos led by 58 points early in the third term before the Lions stormed back into contention with five unanswered goals in the space of just 11 minutes to slash the margin to 26 points by the final change.
 
For North fans, there appeared a disturbing sense of deja vu about the sudden turn of events.
 
The first goal of the final term took 10 minutes to eventuate, but it was well worth the wait, with Kieran Harper slotting a magical goal on the run from the boundary line.

Another neat snap from Levi Greenwood, who starred with 24 disposals, shepherded North to the relative safety of a 40-point buffer.
 
The Lions kicked the last four goals but it was all too late.

The Roos had a dangerous, multi-pronged attack with Harper (three) Sam Wright (four), Drew Petrie (three) and second-gamer Aaron Black (three) constant threats.
 
At the other end, Lions power forwards Jonathan Brown and Daniel Merrett - who combined for 46 disposals, 28 marks and 12.4 against Greater Western Sydney last week - managed just three goals between them as Luke Delaney and Scott Thompson proved their masters for most of the afternoon.
 
After having their commitment questioned the previous week, the Kangaroos predictably came out firing.

By half-time they had obliterated the Lions in inside 50s (37-14), disposals (205-151), contested possessions (90-61), clearances (24-12) and on the scoreboard.
 
Aside from Greenwood, among the Roos' standouts was Todd Goldstein, who dominated the ruck and also amassed a game-high and career-best 28 disposals (his previous best this season was 13).

Andrew Swallow (25 disposals) and Brent Harvey (27) regained some touch, while Wright played his best game for the club.
 
The Lions had few consistent performers, although they were well served by the likes of Daniel Rich (21 and a superb long goal), Jack Redden (25), impressive debutant Elliot Yeo (16) and Aaron Cornelius, who kicked three goals.
 
Lions veteran Simon Black - a surprise starter at half-back - was subbed out in the third term with a knee problem that flared in the warm up.

NORTH MELBOURNE      6.4    13.8    15.8    17.10 (112)                  
BRISBANE LIONS      3.2    5.4    11.6   15.6 (96)          
 
GOALS
North Melbourne: Wright 4, Petrie 3, Black 3, Harper 3, Ziebell, Swallow, Harvey, Greenwood
Brisbane Lions: Cornelius 4, Redden 2, Green 2, Brown 2, Bewick, Rich, Rockliff, Merrett, Zorko
 
BEST
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Greenwood, Swallow, Wright, Petrie, Black, L. Delaney
Brisbane Lions: Redden, Golby, Cornelius, Green, Hanley, Rockliff
 
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Ziebell (back)
Brisbane Lions: Black (knee)
 
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Jack Ziebell (back) replaced in the third quarter by Cruize Garlett
Brisbane Lions: Simon Black (knee) replaced by Ryan Lester in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Margetts, Leppard, McInerney
 
Official crowd: 19,988 at Etihad Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs