A quality first half was overshadowed by a third quarter labelled by Brad Scott as “disgusting”

The media were quick to criticize North Melbourne’s performance against Collingwood.

The Roos allowed ten successive goals during a brutal Magpies display, eventually falling by 17 points.

AFL.com.au

“It’s (North Melbourne’s) season is now slipping away. Four and five coming off a Preliminary Final, you bring in (Jarrad) Waite, you bring in (Shaun) Higgins … you don’t have the luxury of being four and five the next year.” – Damian Barrett

“This was a team that in the end looked like they didn’t want to take responsibility. It was get the ball out of my area type of stuff.

“They are a group that went into their shell and didn’t want to take responsibility for what was going on.” – Garry Lyon

Herald Sun

“Led by 39 points at the half and was pulverised in the third quarter and overran again in the final minutes. Coach Brad Scott called it disgusting. One of the worst of his coaching career.

“Mentally they are weak. The Pies raised the tempo in the third, winning clearances, winning the contested ball and North’s defence was a walk-through. And North Melbourne couldn’t respond. They looked as insipid as Gold Coast and Carlton. Anyway, Scott has flagged changes.” – Mark Robinson

The difference between a dominant first half and a disappointing third term was highlighted.

The Age

“What created this change was nothing positional, nothing structural, nothing other than a mental change. Suddenly Collingwood wanted to be the team to win the ball and tackle and move the ball quickly.” – Michael Gleeson

North now faces an uphill battle to play in September.

AFL.com.au

“Approaching the half-way point of the season, not many would have predicted last year's preliminary finalists would be so low on the ladder with a percentage of just 89.7. With the competition so even, North Melbourne has a huge fight on its hands to push its way into finals contention.“ – Nat Edwards

While it was a tough day all round, an emerging midfielder came in for praise.

“After being the substitute for his first two games of AFL football, young Roo Trent Dumont relished playing his first full game. In the opening term he was handed the task of running with Pendlebury. Recruited from Norwood at pick No.30 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, the 19-year-old kept Pendlebury to just five lacklustre touches in the first term, and managed to gather five of his own and two inside 50s.” - Nat Edwards