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COACH Brad Scott is not overly concerned by North Melbourne's recent inability to bury opposition teams when it has them down.
North was 58 points up against the Brisbane Lions at the four-minute mark of the third quarter at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
But after allowing Port Adelaide to kick the last five goals last week to snatch a two-point win, North conceded five consecutive third-quarter goals against the Lions to see its lead shrink to 26 points at three-quarter time.
Scott acknowledged his team needed to start producing more consistent performances but did not believe its consecutive fadeouts were a problem after it held on for a 16-point win against the Lions.
"I prefer to focus on the fact we were 57 points (sic) up and Aaron Black came in for the second game of his career and really looked dominant at times," Scott said.
"The contested possession count (160-126) was just a complete domination, the clearances were a significant domination (50-31), inside 50s (60-46) were the same."
"I understand that the inability to stop the opposition getting a run-on could be concerning, but I would be more concerned if that was because we were being beaten in a contest, or we're panicking under pressure, or we're running out of steam.
"I don't believe it's any of those things. I think it's just simple fundamentals."
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However, Scott acknowledged his team had been wasteful in front of goals in the first quarter against the Lions, emerging with just a 20-point lead at quarter-time despite winning the inside 50 count 18-8.
But Scott said he was prepared to back his young players to use their natural flair, despite the fact their decision-making still needed to improve.
"In the first quarter we had Sam Wright running into an open goal who decided to try and handball it to Aaron Black," Scott said.
"And a couple of minutes later we had Leigh Adams who probably could have handballed and decided to have a shot, so there not messages you send out [as coach].
"We're a little bit inconsistent at the moment and that's our challenge."
Scott said North's ability to break its three-game losing streak was a relief, but more for its supporters than the players and coaching staff.
"Internally we focus on the facts and last week, while there's no doubt it was demoralising, it was very, very simple the things that cost us," Scott said.
"For us I'm sitting here pleased that we won but still acutely aware we've got a lot to work on".
After a slow start to the season that saw him dropped after North's round four loss to the Sydney Swans, ruckman Todd Goldstein had a career-high 28 possessions against the Lions, three contested marks and 47 hitouts.
Scott said Goldstein's return to form had been based on simple hard work.
"'Goldy' is an elite aerobic athlete for his size and he plays his best when he's really working hard and running hard," Scott said.
Scott also praised key defender Luke Delaney's "terrific job" in restricting Lions skipper Jonathan Brown to two goals.
Meanwhile, North co-vice-captain Drew Petrie lauded Sam Wright's ability to bounce back after a one-week stint in the VFL.
"He was just that medium-size forward where he took some marks but at ground level was really good as well," Petrie said.
"He's missed one or two weeks [and] to come in and have [an] impact straight away is a credit to his development."
VIDEOS: Match highlights | Levi Greenwood snap goal | Kieran Harper brilliance | Drew Petrie soccer goal | Petrie snap goal | Goldstein and Wright interviews | Petrie flies high | Brad Scott and Petrie press conference | Aaron Black highlights
Can't view the videos? Visit the NMFC YouTube Channel
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_Nick
