North Melbourne doesn't always knock you out by quarter-time, but the AFL's stingiest side added some big-time offence early to do exactly that to Brisbane on Sunday.

The Kangaroos blew the Lions away with a five-goals-to-none opening term – the fifth time this year they've conceded one or fewer – on their way to an authoritative 21.15 (141) to 12.15 (87) triumph.

The difference was 55 points by half-time despite North having only seven more inside 50s in a ruthless display of efficiency.

Brad Scott's troops have now won five on the trot against Brisbane by an average of almost 10 goals and seem finals-bound with seven victories through 11 rounds.

The same sides met in the final round last year knowing the loser would claim the wooden spoon, putting context into North Melbourne's remarkably rapid return to relevance.

"Very, very good performance, all in all," Scott told reporters.

"Because the game's split into 30-minute quarters, you tend to analyse them individually rather than a game as a whole.

"I certainly look at the game as a whole and when the game was there to be won, we played some really good footy."

Preventing a perfect afternoon was Jarrad Waite's calf injury in the warm-up and resultant late withdrawal, as well as Jed Anderson (hamstring tightness) sitting out all bar five minutes.

North club champion Shaun Higgins ran rampant, winning 26 of his career-high 38 possessions (12 contested) in the opening half and adding six clearances, seven inside 50s and 10 score involvements.

The 30-year-old matched his previous best of 36 by three-quarter time in a spectacular performance of hard running and clean skills.

Midfield beast Ben Cunnington (18 of 28 possessions contested) wonderfully complemented Higgins with another masterclass, while debutant Paul Ahern (29) made an instant impression.

Luke McDonald also cashed in on the Lions misery, setting a new personal best with 34 disposals and 702 metres gained, and Todd Goldstein won the ruck battle over Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerney.

Tom Murphy, the other debutant when Waite was pulled from the game minutes before the start, looked comfortable at the next level.

Fourteen North footballers kicked goals, including Sam Wright enjoying his first two since 2015 and Robbie Tarrant slotting just his third in five seasons since permanently going down back.

The AFL's No.2 contested ball team blitzed Brisbane in that area in the first half (72-56), thumped the visitors 24-15 in clearances in that time and used handball to release teammates for searching runs.

MEDICAL ROOM 

North Melbourne: Veteran Jarrad Waite hurt a calf in the warm-up and was a very late withdrawal after preparing to go in as selected. The in-form forward has had calf problems throughout his career. Jed Anderson (hamstring) was also done inside five minutes despite undergoing a fitness test at quarter-time and staying warm, with coach Brad Scott saying it wasn't worth risking him. But Scott couldn't say whether either player would be available in a week's time against Geelong.

NEXT UP
The Roos face a stern test of their credentials next Saturday against fellow finals aspirant Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. 

NORTH MELBOURNE      5.7   12.9    16.14   21.15 (141)
BRISBANE           0.4   3.8      7.11   12.15 (87)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Ziebell 3, Brown 2, Atley 2, McDonald 2, Wright 2, Jacobs 2, Higgins, Wood, Simpkin, Goldstein, Williams, Hartung, Tarrant, Cunnington
Brisbane: Beams 5, McStay 2, McInerney, Bailey, Keays, Taylor, Zorko

BEST 
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Higgins, McDonald, Ahern, Tarrant, Atley, Goldstein
Brisbane: Beams, Andrews, Hodge, Bailey

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Waite (calf soreness) replaced in selected side by Tom Murphy, Anderson (hamstring)
Brisbane: Berry (hamstring soreness) replaced in selected side by Keays, Christensen (concussion), Cameron (foot), McCluggage (calf)

Reports: Mitch Robinson (Brisbane) for rough contact on Shaun Higgins in the third quarter.
Umpires: Margetts, Brown, Donlon
Official crowd: 22,133 at Etihad Stadium