North Melbourne’s VFL side has suffered its fourth loss in a row, falling to the Sydney Swans 12.14 (86) to 12.8 (80) at Arden Street Oval.

The Roos took a three-point lead at the 21st-minute mark of the fourth quarter following a crucial major from Sam Lowson (20 disposals, five clearances), but it was some individual brilliance from Swan Luke Parker that got Sydney over the line late.

With little time remaining, the veteran booted a 60-metre torpedo to land what was ultimately the winning goal for his side.

"It's really frustrating to get so close and again hit the front in the last quarter (but not win)," VFL coach Tom Lynch told NMFC Media.

"We've done that three times in the last three weeks where we've hit the front late but haven't gone onto win the game.

"The players are certainly putting themselves in a position to win, so credit to them - we just weren't able to get it done today."

KANGAROOS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Tyler Sellers got the Roos underway, kicking his side's first goal inside the match's first minute following a free kick.

But in similar fashion to last Sunday at Sandringham, it was the Swans who slotted the next four to take a 17-point buffer into the first change.

Cooper Harvey was the beneficiary of another free kick inside 50 at the beginning of the second term, and slotted his first goal for the campaign.

Not long later, budding youngster Zane Duursma started to get involved in his first VFL game as a Roo. He kicked back-to-back goals as the half-time siren neared, including a brilliant snap from the boundary which trickled through on the bounce.   

The exciting forward went onto kick four for the game from his nine disposals.

"(Zane's) mindset going in was fantastic," Lynch said.

"He was able to finish his work and get on the end of some of our better ball movement, so I was really pleased for him to be able to hit the scoreboard.

"We just didn't have enough of a strong connection going forward when we felt like we had an opportunity to score, and the ball bounced out of our front half a little bit too easily today.

"We had a young midfield group in there, and Sam Hayes who I thought was really strong for us - supported nicely by 'Goady' (Taylor Goad).

"They (the Swans) outworked us, that's for sure."

Miller Bergman got off to a hot start, racking up 15 disposals in the first half en route to 23 disposals and five rebound 50s for the day. He was supported by Ben Davis who put in a strong shift rebounding out of defence.

The Roos kicked three unanswered goals to finish the third quarter, with Finnbar Maley bagging a late one after the siren to cut the Swans lead to just one point going into the final break.

Curtis Taylor (20 disposals) was another to hit the scoreboard in a fruitful third quarter having finished terrifically on the run from the pocket.

After the Swans kicked the first two goals of the last quarter, the Roos would go on a three-goal run started by big man Taylor Goad, who notched his first goal in the VFL before ending the afternoon with four clearances and seven hitouts.

However, it was Parker who stepped up in the dying stages, downing the Roos with a long bomb.

In response to his omission from the AFL side, ex-Swan Dylan Stephens showed some poise running up and down the wings, finishing with 21 disposals and six inside 50s.

NORTH MELBOURNE    1.3    4.6    9.7    12.8  (80)     
SYDNEY SWANS          4.2    6.5    9.8    12.14  (86)     

GOALS  
North Melbourne: Duursma 4, Downie 2, Taylor, Sellers, Maley, Lowson, Harvey, Goad 
Sydney Swans: Hamling 4, Moi Moi 3, Smit, Shipley, Parker, Konstanty, Kirk  

BEST
North Melbourne: Lowson, Butler, Davis, Taylor, Watkins, Lord