North Melbourne has ended its season with a 22-point defeat to Southport in a shootout at Fankhauser Reserve.

It was a spirited performance from the Roos as they held the advantage until the 10-minute mark of the last quarter, but the Sharks ultimately led when it mattered, picking up the 15.13 (103) to 12.9 (81) win on Saturday afternoon.

SHARKS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The Kangaroos got hot early with a five-goal-to-two opening term, but the Sharks were hard to stop once they got their blistering transition game going in the second term, cutting the margin to nine to leave the game hanging in the balance at the main break.

Player watch

Returning from a hamstring injury, Eddie Ford delivered another solid showing in defence with 17 disposals and eight marks. Ford worked hard into dangerous positions to move the ball quickly, while dropping into gaps to take a number of intercept marks as a spare defender.

The utility was also efficient with his ball use (82 per cent disposal efficiency) as a handy distributor out of defence, with his best moment coming in the opening exchanges as his spearing ball inside 50 set up Maley for the opener.

Brynn Teakle (14 disposals, 15 hitouts) showed his versatility as he took on a significant portion of the ruck duties. The big man made himself an extra midfielder with his follow-up work and ball use around the stoppage and was dangerous charging out of the goal square.

Pushing up to the wing, Teakle found space and pulled the trigger with a long kick inside 50, resulting in a Scoble goal in the dying stages with the game in the balance.

Will Phillips made a final push for an AFL recall, finishing with 15 disposals and eight tackles in the free-flowing contest.

The young mid was clean and composed under pressure, using his physicality and poise to get first hands on the footy and break through a number of tackles.

Fellow midfielder Luke Urquhart was also strong around the contest in his return to the side. The draftee picked up 18 disposals and four clearances as he saw more on-ball opportunities.

Finnbar Maley (nine disposals, five marks) and Robert Hansen jnr (16 disposals) were also dangerous up forward, pushing high up the ground to get their hands on the footy and set up opportunities for their teammates, while kicking two goals each.

Skipper Darcy Macpherson (36 disposals, two goals) starred in his return to the town where he mastered his craft, while Matthew Clarkson (22 disposals, nine marks) was damaging with his ball use off half-back to go with an early major. Livewire Tyson Scoble led the way with three goals.

SOUTHPORT                     2.1    5.3    10.5    15.13   (103)
NORTH MELBOURNE       5.2    6.6    11.8     12.9     (81)

GOALS
Southport: Gore 4, Pescud 2, Sexton 2, Oea 2, Edwards, Dixon, Lake, Buzza, Manteit
North Melbourne: Scoble 3, Maley 2, Macpherson 2, Hansen jnr 2, Clarkson, Lowe, Tarrant

BEST
North Melbourne: Macpherson, Clarkson, Huggard, Keast, Phillips, Scoble