Andrew Swallow has backed his coach's assessment of Saturday night's shock loss to the Lions, agreeing it was "embarrassing".
 
"He's right. It's a game we should have won..." Swallow told the media at Melbourne Airport.

The Roos squandered an opportunity to move two games clear inside the top eight after the four point defeat.

The North captain admitted the outcome was "bitterly disappointing" and was at a loss to explain why the team had a fatal fade-out in the second quarter.

"It was frustrating because we played a bad quarter of footy and it cost us in the end.

"We're just not consistent enough across the four quarters, collectively and also individually."

Inconsistency has been a theme throughout the Kangaroos' season and despite a brave fightback in the second half, Swallow said it was too little, too late at the GABBA.

"We had our chances in the last ten minutes to get in front and missed a couple of goals and I think we had 80 odd per cent of the possessions in our forward half in that last ten minutes, so we had our chances, we didn't take them."

North has a favourable draw to finish the year, but Swallow refused to look too far ahead and wouldn't entertain too much talk of potential finals.

"If we win enough games on the way home, we'll play finals it's plain and simple."

Asked about a heated post-match exchange between Brent Harvey and Tom Rockliff, Swallow played a straight bat and encouraged the media to 'move on'.

"It's heat of the moment, it was as the siren went it's probably just a bit blown up. I think Rockcliff apologised to Boomer and we'll leave it at that."

Meanwhile Brad Scott defended his decision to approach the Lions' midfielder during a brief conversation with The Sunday Footy Show's Damian Barrett.

"I can guarantee no harsh words were exchanged, there is no animosity between myself and Tom Rockliff."

North will need to forget the Brisbane disappointment and aftermath quickly, with a short turnaround ahead of a blockbuster clash against Hawthorn.

"We've got a big test this week against the Hawks on Friday night, they're in terrific form, really touched up the Gold Coast down in Tassie and they'll look to get a couple of guys back so it's going to be a really big challenge for us."