North Melbourne "needs to improve" if it is to become a genuine top-four contender, coach Brad Scott says.
The Roos mentor was disappointed with some aspects of his side's 41-point triumph over Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, even though it lifted North to within a game of the top four.
"There were some things that we were really disappointed with in terms of the way we played," Scott said.
"We've got to hold ourselves to a high account, because that's what really good teams do and we're not a really good team yet.
"So we've got to keep striving to become one and there was some things that frustrated me today with all phases of the game really."
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North kicked an inaccurate 15.17 and could have boosted their percentage significantly if they were more ruthless.
"We had a few 12-point plays where we not only squandered an opportunity to score for us but we opened ourselves up on the rebound," Scott said.
"Again, really good sides don't do that."
North has one of the easier runs home of any of the contenders and is a realistic chance of finishing in the top four if it can end its inconsistent form.
"That's why I'm being critical. That's why I'm not kidding myself and saying we're going fantastically," Scott said.
"Because we're not going fantastically when you compare us with Port Adelaide, Hawthorn, Fremantle, Sydney, even Geelong – who with their youth are going to have some fluctuations – the Gold Coast.
"You've got to compare yourselves against those sides and we're going to need to improve to match and beat them."
Scott was pleased with the Roos having 12 individual goalkickers and tall forward Ben Brown's performance on debut after he was called up on Saturday for Robbie Tarrant.
Brown worked his way into the match and finished with eight possessions, five marks, one goal and two score assists.
"I thought Ben Brown was lively today, he showed that he's got a future at the level," Scott said.
"And Majak (Daw) played well for Werribee in the VFL so there are still some options for us up forward but we're going to need to spread the load."
Scott said Tarrant was sore after his first game back from a leg injury last weekend against Adelaide and he will continue to be managed.
"At the moment it's not conclusive as to the best way to manage him but he's had a long, long time to recover from this injury but he's still sore so we've got to find out why," Scott said.
North Melbourne faces the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 15.
