On a trying night in Perth, North succumbed to a 73-point loss against the ladder-leading Dockers largely through its wasteful use of the ball by foot.

For the majority of the game, the Kangaroos were able to slow down Fremantle from the contest and slower passages of play, minimising the sort of rebound run that had cruelled them in recent weeks.

Of Fremantle’s 17 goals, only one originated in its defensive 50. It was a clear improvement by North on the previous week, when Essendon scored a quarter of its goals from passages of play that started in the same area.

Fremantle only converted a quarter of its rebound 50’s into attacking entries. It was another area where the Kangaroos improved on – it had been a problem area in the first seven rounds of the season.

However those two positive areas weren’t enough to counter the turnovers which gifted the Dockers far too many opportunities to score.

While North normally doesn’t give away the ball too many times in relation to the rest of the competition and the league average, the story has often been how the opponents have capitalised on the turnovers. It was again the case at Domain Stadium.

As the numbers show, the total turnovers by the Kangaroos weren’t too much higher than normal, but an incredibly efficient Fremantle outfit made each one costly.

Considering the two sides almost broke even in scoring from stoppages, with only a six-point advantage the Dockers’ way, it was the turnovers that proved crucial to the result.

Looking ahead to Round 9, North faces Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. The last time the sides met, the Kangaroos had their disposal to blame, which makes fixing the issues that popped up last week of critical importance.

A defeat of Collingwood would see North reel in a side that is currently one win ahead of it.