North Melbourne has slipped to 4-3 on the season after a disappointing performance against Gold Coast on Sunday.

Brad Scott's team conceded the first seven goals of the game, and despite a brave fightback during the second and third quarters were always going to find it tough to win.

The Suns' pressure was immense in the opening term, catching North on the back-foot after a nine-day break.

Ben Cunnington was the instigator during the second term comeback, racking up 14 disposals for the quarter as the Kangaroos narrowed the margin to just 17 points.

North got as close as four points behind midway through the premiership quarter, but that was where its momentum stopped.

Three last quarter goals from Gary Ablett put the icing on the cake for the visitors, who ended the game 43-point victors.

Lachlan Hansen finished with a career-high 17 marks in defence, while Levi Greenwood minimised Ablett's influence for most of the day.

The defeat brings North back to the pack in seventh position on the AFL Ladder, with a bye and a home clash against Brisbane in the next fortnight.

"Taking nothing away from them (the Suns), we were off," Scott said after the match.  

"They outworked us through the midfield, they were quick, I thought their execution by hand and foot was very clean and crisp and they had dangerous forwards.

"Our ball movement was terrible, our effort in the contest wasn't up to standard and we suffered a really disappointing loss against a side that was better than us on the day."