North Melbourne has fallen to its first loss since Round 9, going down to the GWS Giants at Blundstone Arena.
A see-sawing first half had scores level at the main break, but seven goals in succession to the Giants proved the ultimate blow, as the Giants won by 23 points.
Leon Cameron's team was well on top through the midfield for much of the day, with North struggling to overcome the loss of injured midfielder Shaun Higgins.
Had it not been for the likes of Marley Williams (seven intercepts) and Robbie Tarrant standing tall in defence to keep Jeremy Cameron quiet, the Giants may have made far more of their midfield superiority.
The Kangaroos had their own attacking weapons in Tarryn Thomas and Kayne Turner though, with two goals apiece to keep things in check on the scoreboard.
Thomas, a North Launceston product, gave Kangaroos fans a glimpse of what they can look forward to with him in the side, first with a dead-eye set-shot from 50m in the first quarter and then with another composed shot following a telling mark from three deep, midway through the second quarter.
As it was, the Giants' ability to win the ball and then dominate possession for long periods was too much for North to compete with and there was only ever going to be one outcome for most of the second half.
North's first loss under interim coach Shaw could have added pain attached as star forward Ben Brown was reported for striking Matt Buntine with a raised elbow.
MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Ben Brown pulled up sore following a first-quarter marking contest and spent time being assessed on the bench during the third term but was able to run out the game without too many problems.
GWS Giants: De Boer came off second best in a clash with Cunnington in the third term and spent the final quarter on the bench in his tracksuit following assessment at three-quarter time. Jeremy Finlayson looked sore after a first-quarter collision but was able to run out the match.
NEXT UP
Both North Melbourne and GWS have the bye in round 14 and return to face Collingwood and Essendon respectively the following week. Both fixtures will be at Marvel Stadium with the Giants and Bombers lighting up the Thursday night slot and North squaring off against the Magpies on the Saturday evening.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.0 7.3 8.6 10.8 (68)
GWS GIANTS 3.2 7.3 11.6 14.7 (91)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 2, Thomas 2, Turner 2, Ziebell, Garner, Dumont, Larkey
GWS Giants: Greene 3, Coniglio 2, Hopper, Tomlinson, Williams, Kelly, Taranto, Deledio, Cameron, Himmelberg, Finlayson
BEST
North Melbourne: Anderson, Thomas, Williams, Tarrant
GWS Giants: Kelly, Coniglio, Taranto, Hopper, Greene, Mumford
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
GWS Giants: de Boer (shoulder)
Reports: Brown (NM) reported for striking Buntine (GWS)
Umpires: Rosebury, Brown, Williamson, Mollison
Official crowd: 7832 at Blundstone Arena
