North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein says the Roos can match it with the best, if they can put four quarters together.

A five goal to one second quarter proved to be the difference in the Swans win over the Roos, and Goldstein said he and his teammates knew it wasn't acceptable.

"It was an incredibly disappointing result," Goldstein said at recovery this morning.

"It felt like we were in the game for the most part, we played some pretty good footy for three quarters. Unfortunately that's not enough to get the job done."

The Roos drew within a goal of the reigning Grand Finalists, but in the end it was the team from NSW who took home the points.

"The intensity was right up. We knew both sides have a real focus on contested ball. We knew it was going to be a fight, we knew it was going to be a tough game," the number 22 said.

"The way the competition is now, you have to put a four quarter effort in or you're not going to get the result you want.

"Until we start doing that, we're not going to be contenders to beat the best teams."

Goldstein said he was yet to watch back the second quarter fadeout, but knew that there was plenty to work on.

"We went away from doing the basic things well. We started getting our structures wrong and stopped using the ball the way we did in the other quarters. Those little things really add up to a big margin."

It was North who dominated the clearances,43-27, but Goldstein said while that statistic was pleasing, there was plenty of other areas his side needed to improve upon.

"Clearances are only one part. We didn't use ball very well, we didn't finish off some very gettable goals - so it's a lot of things that add up to the result."

The Roos are on the road again next week, with a trip to Sydney to take on the Giants.

That clash with GWS could also see the return of injured midfielder Nick Dal Santo who injured his hamstring in Round 2 against the Lions.

"I think he's pushing for selection. He was hoping to play this week and Dal's probably the last person to rule himself out. If he is right it will be a great inclusion. His ball use is a good addition to any team," Goldstein said.