Power forward Ben Brown kicked a career high seven goals as North Melbourne avoided the wooden spoon with a 51-point hammering of a dreadfully disappointing Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
After a tight first half, the Kangaroos put the foot down with an eight-goal third term on the way to a 19.16 (130) to 11.13 (79) victory.
North Melbourne kicked 18 goals to six after quarter-time and could finish as high as 15th depending on other results.
It is the Lions' first wooden spoon since 1998 and a poor way to finish a promising year.
The silver lining is they will now take the number one pick to November's national draft.
Brown was the star on a warm Saturday afternoon, beating his previous best of six goals kicked earlier this season against both Gold Coast and Essendon.
The 24-year-old got the best of impressive young Lions defender Harris Andrews, finishing with 14 disposals, nine marks and 7.2, kicking goals from strong marks and general play.
His 63 goals for the year moved him just one goal behind West Coast's Josh Kennedy in the Coleman Medal race, although Joe Daniher (60) and Lance Franklin (59) have matches to come.
"He’s had a fantastic year, just a great year," coach Brad Scott said
"Everyone’s seen the marking, the goals and all of that stuff, but the players in our team know just how important he is in other aspects too, he’s just become a very complete forward."
After a week of protesting how desperate his team was to win and avoid finishing last, Scott was delighted.
His team was hungrier from the outset, dominating the Lions around the clearances (47-30) and contested possessions (144-126).
"I thought the endeavour and the effort was really good," he said.
"It’s always difficult when theoretically there’s nothing to play for and no carrot for winning."
Shaun Higgins (29 disposals and two goals) was magnificent in the midfield, while Trent Dumont (26) found plenty of the ball and curbed the influence of Lions skipper Dayne Beams (18).
One sour note for the victors was debutant Ben McKay being stretchered off late in the third quarter after a head clash with teammate Sam Durdin.
The Lions were best served by Daniel Rich, who had 24 disposals and was desperate defensively, and Alex Witherden (27).
They were poor and off the pace from the outset though.
"We didn't play well today," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
"They killed us at clearance, particularly at the centre bounce.
"We're really disappointed that we lost a really important game for us, in terms of not wanting the wooden spoon, by that margin and in that manner."
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Ryan Lester copped a head knock in the final term and was helped off by trainers and did not return
North Melbourne: McKay fell to ground heavily in the third quarter when he clashed heads with teammate Sam Durdin as the pair attempted to spoil a marking contest. McKay was stretchered off and did not return. "He’s in a bit of a bad way," coach Brad Scott said post-match. "We think he’ll be OK but he’ll stay in hospital for observation." Durdin had his head bandaged and came back out in the final term.
NEXT UP
End of the line for both teams. That's eight straight years without finals action for the Lions and their first spoon since 1998, while the Kangaroos miss out for the first time since 2013 but avoid finishing last.
BRISBANE LIONS 5.0 5.5 8.9 11.13 (79)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.8 5.9 13.12 19.16 (130)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Rockliff 2, Zorko 2, D.Beams, Close, C.Beams, McCluggage, Rich, Witherden, Mathieson
North Melbourne: Brown 7, Thomas 3, Durdin, Hrovat, Higgins, Simpkin, Goldstein, Anderson, Higgins, Turner, Cunnington
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Rich, Witherden, Zorko, Mathieson, C.Beams
North Melbourne: Brown, Higgins, Dumont, McDonald, Gibson, Clarke
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Lester (head knock)
North Melbourne: McKay (head knock)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Geoffery, Wallace
Official crowd: 15,416 at the Gabba
