A 16-point defeat to Footscray on Friday night has seen North Melbourne suffer back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

The Kangaroos fought hard to remain in the contest right to the final siren, but the Bulldogs proved to be too strong in their 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) win at Mission Whitten Oval.

BULLDOGS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

An eight-goal avalanche saw the hosts well on top at the main break, but the Roos stormed back into the contest to hit the lead shortly before three-quarter time.

It wasn't to be though as the Bulldogs kicked four majors to the Roos' two in the final stanza.

Player watch

Geordie Payne's (14 disposals, two goals) pressure around the contest was simply elite. Lining up at most centre bounces, Payne was relentless, laying 17 tackles. His first major of the evening came off the back of a chase-down tackle in the forward pocket.

The one-two punch of Callum Coleman-Jones (18 disposals, 17 hitouts) and Taylor Goad (seven disposals, 27 hitouts) was strong once again. 

Both big men were fierce with their physicality in the ruck, with Goad showing off his agility through a pick-up-and-snap goal shortly after half-time.

Eddie Ford (18 disposals, six marks) impressed in his return to the side. The utility put his body on the line to take a number of intercept marks, while repeatedly using his pace on the overlap to launch the Roos into transition.

River Stevens (nine disposals, four tackles) played a huge role in his side's third-term fightback. The crafty forward pushed up high to show off his foot skills, with goals to Ford and Trembath coming straight from Stevens' bullet passes to the goalface.

Zac Banch (16 disposals, five score involvements) was also dangerous down forward once again. The livewire attacked the ball hard at ground level and added another two goals to his tally for the year through quick-thinking efforts out the back.

Darcy Macpherson (26 disposals, one goal) was smooth around the contest and with his ball use, as well as Oliver Lowe who racked up 27 disposals and a goal off the wing.

Next up

North Melbourne will have a bye in round 16, before travelling north to take on Sydney on July 19. The first bounce at Tramway Oval is scheduled for 12.05pm AEST.

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS      2.1    8.5    9.6    13.9   (87)
NORTH MELBOURNE            3.3    3.4   8.10   10.11  (71)

GOALS
Footscray Bulldogs: Khamis 2, Cuningham 2, Lewis 2, Muratore, Scott, Smith, E Macpherson, Dolan, Jaques, Baker
North Melbourne: Banch 2, Payne 2, Trembath, Ford, Lowe, D Macpherson, Tarrant, Goad

BEST
North Melbourne: Payne, Macpherson, Linder, Coleman-Jones, Goad, Banch