Brad Scott says the AFL's new rules have "changed the game" as he lamented North Melbourne's centre-bounce struggles in its loss to Brisbane.

The Roos remain winless for 2019 after a 20-point loss to the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, despite having broken out to handy leads in the third and fourth quarters.

The AFL's new '6-6-6' starting positions rule has made for an even bigger importance on centre clearances, and the Roos were smashed in that area by the Lions, losing the count 20-10.

Scott said despite his side's control of the contest at different stages, the rules allowed for quick scoring surges.

"I thought we had ourselves in a winning position for most of the game, but the game's changed. It's a different game now," Scott said after the match.

"Last year, on average, both teams can expect to score roughly nine points from centre bounces.

"We lost the centre bounces horribly, and that's bad enough. But then they scored 43 points from those centre bounces and we only scored 14 points.

"There are a lot of things that go into a game of footy, but that matters more than it's ever mattered in football history, I suspect. It's a huge component of the game."

Scott is a member of the AFL's Competition Committee that put forward a series of new rules to the League last year, and said he's in favour of the change.

"But I did make the point that while I'm an advocate for it, it's going to be harder to coach if things aren't going your way because you're limited in how you can turn things around," he said.

Scott highlighted North recruits Jared Polec and Aaron Hall as being standouts in the defeat, and he was pleased with the signs from first-gamer Tarryn Thomas.

No.4 draft pick Luke Davies-Uniacke, now into his second season at AFL level, also won praise after collecting a career-high 26 disposals.

"We're putting a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, but we feel he's ready for it," Scott said. "He's a genuine inside-the-centre-square option for us. He had a good game."

North plays Hawthorn next Sunday at the MCG.