After every round for the remainder of the 2014 season, NMFC.com.au will search the major media outlets for all that is being said about the weekend’s performance.

North’s disappointing loss at the hands of Geelong drew the ire of its coach and parts of the media.

Brad Scott labelled his side’s first quarter as ‘appalling’, while journalists were equally as scathing.

Getting the margin back to 20 points by the final siren did little to silence the critics.

The Herald Sun – Sam Landsberger
“North Melbourne spent a series of pre-season sessions at Simonds Stadium with Geelong last year and the Cats must have felt like they were back in that heightened training mode in the first quarter last night.

“While Chris Scott’s team’s grunt work showed a stunning spike, it was the uncontested ball which cut the Roos to pieces. If you’re a North fan, look away now. The Cats racked up a ridiculous 46 more uncontested touches and 37 handball receives in the first term alone.”

The Age – Peter Hanlon
“Any pre-game jitters among (Geelong) fans harbouring dark thoughts were banished by quarter-time, at which point North Melbourne trailed by only 21 points but was so ominously and distantly in arrears to both the naked and statistical eye that recovery was a long-odds proposition.

“The damage in the end was only 20, but even as the Kangaroos won the second half and drew to within 16 points with time left to pinch it in the last, it felt like they were in the contest in theory for far longer than reality.”

The Herald Sun – Scott Gullan
“None of North’s prime movers were having any impact (in the first half). Nick Dal Santo and Andrew Swallow had just seven touches in the first half while Ben Cunnington and Jack Ziebell had both only touched it eight times.”

The Australian – Courtney Walsh
“The Kangaroos were identified as likely to improve. If they managed to claim even a quarter of the matches they blew last season, finals were a certainty. Even the top four was possible.

“It is dangerous to read much into a single home-and-away clash, particularly one at a ground where Geelong is near unbeatable.

“Yet these two sides reach the halfway mark of the season next week with the gulf on the ladder as clear as the gap in class in general play last night.

“The weekend begins with Geelong second, a position it will hold should Port Adelaide trump Hawthorn at home. The Kangaroos’ hold on the eight is in peril.

“And that is how it appeared from soon after the opening bounce — a premiership aspirant dictating to a side with much still to prove.

“Geelong proved classier with and without the ball, tougher when under pressure or imposing that on the Kangaroos, more potent and creative whenever within reach of goal.”

The Age – Jake Niall
“As much as Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly excelled, (Tom) Hawkins was a greater obstacle to North. He took advantage of Geelong's kicking and took some powerful marks. But his impact wasn't simply in the air. He also caused the Kangaroos grief when the ball was on the deck, simply by putting his body in the right spots and creating a pathway for Geelong's smaller players - and relative to Hawkins, that's pretty much everyone.”

The Herald Sun - Ben Broad
"Underwhelming is the word to describe North’s display against the Cats. A flat first half was patched up, at least on the scoreboard, by the fast finish. Although the up-and-down, frustrating ride continues for fans who can see the promise of what might be."

AFL.com.au – Adam McNicol
“North Melbourne, which was missing key defender Nathan Grima (foot) and midfielder Daniel Wells (foot), had few winners on a disappointing night where the final margin was, to some degree, flattering.”