North Melbourne's VFL side has gone down to the Gold Coast Suns at the death in its final clash of the season.

After a couple of crucial misses, a late goal from Chris Burgess down the other end all but killed North's hopes of finishing the year with two wins on the trot.

The Suns were able to hold on with a five-point lead for the final two minutes to eventually take the victory 12.10 (82) to 11.11 (77).

"I was really disappointed for the playing group because they played a great brand of footy for a fair amount of the time today and they probably deserved to come away with the points," said interim coach Tom Lynch.

"It was really important that we finished the year off strongly and I thought the effort from the players today, AFL and VFL-listed, was really pleasing."

The tightly contested affair, played mostly under cloudy grey skies on a slippery and muddy Arden Street deck, saw the Roos match it early with a Suns outfit looking to lock in a finals berth.

KANGAROOS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats

Two goals from close range courtesy of Phoenix Spicer and Jacob Edwards saw the Roos take charge in the opening quarter but a late surge from Gold Coast meant they would take a 12-point quarter-time lead.

The second quarter was much more satisfying from a North perspective as Tom Lynch's side outscored the Suns 27 to 10 to enter the main break with a five-point buffer.

While both teams remained close on the scoreboard, the Suns had the authority around stoppages, but it was the Roos who were slightly more effective with their ball use.

Having been omitted from the senior side in the build-up to Saturday, it was Aaron Hall who made life difficult for Gold Coast for most of the day.

The defender finished with a game-high 37 disposals and managed to boot a sensational goal from just inside the arc during the second quarter.

"Hally', Taz' (Tarryn Thomas) and Josh Walker - I was really pleased with their attitudes and the way they played today," Lynch said.

"Obviously they would have liked to have been playing in the final AFL game of the year but the way they went about it today and how strongly they all played – the rest of the group really fed off their intent and their attack at the contest."

With the scores locked at 62 apiece at three-quarter time, it was all to play for in the final term of the season.

A miraculous third goal from Thomas opened the final stanza and injected more hope into the group who were closing in on a fifth win for the campaign.

But chances through Thomas and Tom Williamson went begging late and the Roos were unsuccessful in their attempts to break through the Suns' defence in the dying stages.

Josh Walker and Marty Hore impressed down back once again with the duo racking up 21 marks and 43 disposals between them, while Thomas was smooth around the contest on his way to 22 touches and three goals.

In what was also Kade Answerth's 100th and final game, the co-captain ended his VFL career with a 13-disposal and one-goal game.

"Kade's been an absolute warrior of VFL for a fair few years now," Lynch said.

"He's one of the more selfless players I've come across in my time in football, he's been playing with broken ribs all year and his team-first attitude and the way he puts his body on the line is some of the more courageous stuff I've seen.

"It's disappointing we're losing a real quality person, but he'll always be welcome back to the club."

NORTH MELBOURNE     2.2     6.5     9.8     11.11     (77)     
GOLD COAST                 4.2     5.6     9.8     12.10     (82)     

GOALS  
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Spicer 2, Collins, Answerth, Edwards, Hall, Hore, Lipscombe
Gold Coast: Burgess 5, Stevens 2, Bowes, Conroy, Corbett, Harrington, Tsitas

BEST  
North Melbourne: Hall, J.Walker, Thomas, Hore, Jones
Gold Coast: Sharp, Bowes, Burgess, Markov, Tsitas