North Melbourne got its 2014 campaign off to a disappointing start on Friday night with a 39-point defeat at the hands of Essendon.

The Bombers dominated possession from start to finish, registering almost 160 more disposals than their opponents and only gave up the lead for a matter of minutes during the second quarter.

For Brad Scott’s team, Lindsay Thomas was a shining light in an otherwise forgettable night in front of more than 42,000 fans at Etihad Stadium.

The small-forward booted four goals and pulled down several big marks to lead the way in attack, but he had little assistance with North’s key forwards well beaten on the night.

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Jamie Macmillan was another brave performer, regularly putting his body on the line and gathering 23 disposals, while Brent Harvey finished with 21 possessions.

Coming off the bench midway through the third quarter, Leigh Adams was one of the Kangaroos' more influential players on the comeback trail from injury. He finished with ten marks and 17 disposals in just 31 per cent game time.

Todd Goldstein was courageous in the ruck, despite being unable to raise his left arm after leaving the ground in the first quarter. The seriousness of the injury is yet to be determined.

It was a veteran who got the ball rolling for the winners. Paul Chapman kick-started Essendon’s early surge with a long goal from a North turnover, and finished the match with four goals.

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Jobe Watson (38 disposals, 2 goals), Brendan Goddard (26 disposals, 2 goals) and Dyson Heppell (37 disposals) were dominant performers throughout, with Cale Hooker pulling down 16 marks in defence.

The Kangaroos enjoyed a good period late in the first and early in the second quarter, but wasted the ball going forward and found the going tough thereafter.

Scott said post-match his team simply hadn't been able to get their hands on the ball.

"It was a miracle we got the game back pretty much at level pegging in the second quarter because we were just being outplayed and outhunted, so it's bitterly disappointing from that perspective.

"I can't think of a game ever in my time that we've been beaten by almost 50 in contested possessions and that's just so unlike the group we've got, so that came as a complete shock to me.

"I never would have predicted that would have been our challenge and we've got a short amount of time to rectify it."

NORTH MELBOURNE        3.0   5.3      8.5    9.6    (60)                  
ESSENDON                         4.1   8.5    11.8   15.9   (99)   

GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 4, Black, Dal Santo, Harvey, McKenzie, Wright
Essendon: Chapman 4, Goddard 3, Hardingham 2, Daniher 2, Watson 2, Howlett, Ryder

BEST
North Melbourne: Thomas, Macmillan, Harvey, Cunnington, Mullett
Essendon: Watson, Chapman, Goddard, Heppell, Zaharakis, J.Merrett, Hooker

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Goldstein (shoulder), Cunnington (concussion)
Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Leigh Adams replaced Scott McMahon in the fourth quarter
Essendon: Zach Merrett replaced Martin Gleeson in the third quarter

Official crowd: 42,332 at Etihad Stadium