Brad Scott says he was “bitterly disappointed” with North Melbourne’s performance against Essendon.

The Roos dropped to a 1-4 record over the opening five rounds, after a convincing 58-point defeat. 

“You can probably hear it in my voice, the bitter disappointment in terms of what we produced today, on such a big occasion for the club,” Scott said. 

"It's just nowhere near good enough.”

North has given up significant leads against Hawthorn and Brisbane in recent weeks, and a four-and-a-half minute period on Friday in which the Roos conceded four quick goals was damning.

"It's been disappointing, because that's what we pride ourselves on as a football club," Scott said.

"That we are competitive and regardless of the circumstances or the odds (and) that we always fight.

"At the moment, it's just nowhere near good enough on any level. I could talk about all the aspects of the game, but really, it's nowhere near good enough anywhere.”

Forward Ben Brown said it’s up to the players to turn things around, starting in a week against Port Adelaide. 

"We've got to take a look at ourselves and I think we've all got to step up now," Brown said.

"It's been a couple of performances that have been really subpar so far this season and that's not good enough and that's not what we stand for – we've got to improve.”

Scott adamant North could bounce back, sooner rather than later.

"This club has, for better or worse, fought its way through really tough situations and our players are bitterly disappointed and our coaches are bitterly disappointed," he said.

"But now, more than ever, we need people to rally around the players."