v's 
Sunday, April 20 (Gabba)
v's
North Melbourne 1.3 3.5 10.7 12.11 (83) Brisbane 2.6 8.11 10.14 15.19 (109)
Goals
Nth Melb: Blakey 3, Rock, Laidley, A Stevens,
Archer, Freeborn, Sholl, Bell, Allison, Simpson
Brisbane: Leppitsch 5, Lappin 2, McIvor,
Ashcroft, Lynch, Akermanis, Clarke, Lambert, Keating, Hart
North Melbourne's loss against Brisbane was the first time since 1995 that the team had lost 2 matches in a row. With a 1-3 record, North Melbourne is third last on the AFL Ladder. Brisbane dominated the match for 3 quarters, and should have won by at least 7 goals. Only a 7 goal third quarter by North made the scoreline respectable.
Worse still for North was the report of Glenn Archer for striking. The lack of a target in the forward line plagued the team, with tagger John Blakey the leading goal kicker for the team.
Brisbane clearly were the better side for the first half. North had managed only 3 goals for the half, and the forward line was dysfunctional. Most of North's disposals went nowhere, or even worse straight to a Brisbane player. North could not move the ball from the half-back line and were struggling. At half-time the game looked over, with only inaccurate kicking by Brisbane restricting the lead to 36 points.
It was a different North Melbourne that emerged after the break. Kicking 7 goals showed the team had the spirit to lift, and all the drive came from the backline. King, one of North's best all day, led the team forward. Blakey who was fantastic in keeping Voss quiet kicked 3 goals running off Voss. North got within one point, but a free-kick in the goalsquare to Brisbane left North 7 points down at the last break. It was just the thing Brisbane needed to go into the final term. Brisbane effectively stitched the match up in the first few minutes of the last quarter, with Lappin kicking 2 goals and Lynch sealing the win.
It was another disappointing performance by North, but the third quarter showed the team has the ability to play well without its tall forwards. Longmire played well in the ruck and McKernan took marks around the ground. But the question still remains - is the team capable of winning without Carey, arguably the best player in the league.
If Archer is suspended, it will effectively leave North with no forward options, as McKernan and Longmire have been forced to ruck. With potentially Carey, Archer, Daniltchenko, Crocker, Capuano, Groom, Danny Stevens and Mooney all missing the club will face a hard task beating Richmond next week. Four of those players are premiership players - but it's obvious which one is most missed.