North Melbourne couldn't secure the four points in what was ultimately its final game of the season, as it fell to the Sharks by 17 points at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport

The resilient Roos trailed by eight points at the main break, but a stronger second half from the Sharks saw them hold the visitors off.

Back at VFL level, Jaidyn Stephenson (27 disposals, eight intercepts, two goals) had an impactful first three quarters in defence and was swung forward in the last quarter as the Roos looked to produce a win.

Hugh Greenwood put in another solid performance, finishing with 26 disposals, 14 tackles, seven clearances and a goal, as did Charlie Lazzaro (30 disposals, six inside 50s) against a talented Southport onball brigade.

The loss spells the end of the season for the Kangas, who needed a heavy victory and other results to go their way to have any sort of chance at clinching a Wildcard spot.

The Roos created scoring opportunities early in the first quarter but were inaccurate, kicking four behinds in a row before the Sharks capitalised on one of their first forward 50 entries to take the lead.

Cooper Harvey (10 disposals, two goals) got North Melbourne rolling after winning a free kick and slotting the Roos' opener. 

SHARKS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Tyler Sellers secured the visitors' second after he plucked the ball out of the air with one hand and converted his set shot.

But Southport responded strongly, notching the next three goals to close out the first quarter. 

The second term was just as even as the first with both clubs exchanging blows, kicking 3.3 apiece.

Midfielders Watkins and Greenwood both pushed forward to hit the scoreboard, with the former linking up nicely with Blake Drury (21 disposals, one goal) before bouncing one home and the latter showcasing his quick reactions with a snag from the top of the goal square.

Drury tallied another goal assist moments later as Tom Cappellari marked and set off towards the goal line for his first of the afternoon.  

Drury was involved in another score following the main change as he continued to present as a half-forward link-up option. He received a handball from Finnbar Maley and snapped truly across his body before a miraculous bounce off a long bomb from Stephenson saw the No.2 slot the first of his two goals.

Late in the third, Lazzaro fed Harvey who nailed his second goal for the day and gave the trailing Roos some belief heading into the final quarter.

The Roos cut the Sharks' lead to just seven points at the 15th-minute mark of the final quarter, but Southport promptly regained control and peppered away inside 50 until the final siren.  

Young tall Wil Dawson played the majority of the clash as the first-choice ruckman and tallied 10 tackles and 18 hitouts.

Maley was active with 20 touches and five clearances, while Will Phillips extracted seven clearances.

SOUTHPORT SHARKS       4.1    7.4    11.8    14.16  (100)     
NORTH MELBOURNE         2.5    5.8    8.11    12.11  (83)     

GOALS 
Southport: Gray 3, Foot 3, Lockhart 2, Dixon 2, Woodcock, Sexton, Edwards, Aston
North Melbourne: Watkins 2, Stephenson 2, Sellers, Harvey 2, Greenwood, Drury, Downie, Cappellari

BEST
North Melbourne: Greenwood, Lazzaro, Watkins, Stevens, Maley, Cappellari