NORTH Melbourne has cruised to its fifth win of the season, picking apart a listless Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium to win by 87 points on Saturday afternoon.

Led by brilliant veteran Brent Harvey the Kangaroos notched the biggest win of their hot and cold campaign and moved into the top eight, winning 17.23 (125) to 6.2 (38).

A gastro bug had worked through the Lions camp and it might have struck more than just Tom Rockliff and Joel Patfull, who were late withdrawals 90 minutes before the match. 

The visitors, who kicked just one goal in the first and third quarters, were beaten in every key indicator and remain on the bottom of the ladder with a 1-8 record.

There was a clear discrepancy in work rate and by half time the Roos were dominating contested ball 75-46.

Summing up the Lions' apparent lack of desire, in the second quarter North ruckman Todd Goldstein ran past three stationary Lions to mark on the wing.  

Lions coach Justin Leppitsch was left asking what had happened to the effort shown in last week's narrow loss to Essendon at the Gabba as his team limped to its bye.
 
"It's just a lesson for our guys," Leppitsch said. "We didn't throw a counterpunch all day … we waited for them to pick up the ball before we reacted.
 
"Desire, confidence, proactiveness, its all sort of bundled up together. Which one is it?
 
"All I know is it looks like they're in front with the ball in their hands and we're chasing."

Starved of opportunities, Jonathan Brown had just one kick and one handball to his name at half time and he wouldn't register a possession in the second half.

North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow made a drama-free return from an Achilles injury, running through the midfield and winning 18 possessions and five clearances before being substituted at three-quarter time.  

Brisbane Lions midfielder Claye Beams also played his first game this season after recovering from a foot fracture. 

NORTH MELBOURNE      5.5   8.11   13.18  17.23   (125)

BRISBANE LIONS            1.1    3.2     4.2       6.2       (38)

GOALS

North Melbourne: Thomas 4, Black 3, Harvey 2, Adams 2, Daw, Greenwood, Wright, Ziebell, Nahas, Goldstein

Brisbane Lions: Green 3, Close 2, Beams

BEST

North Melbourne: Harvey, Gibson, Thomas, Black, Dal Santo, Cunnington, Thompson

Brisbane Lions: Adcock, Aish, Green, Lester, Golby

INJURIES

North Melbourne: Nil

Brisbane Lions: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

North Melbourne: Andrew Swallow replaced by Ryan Bastinac at three-quarter time.

Brisbane Lions: Dayne Zorko replaced by Nick Robertson in the third quarter.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Mollison, O'Gorman