NORTH Melbourne's dreams of making the top four are pure “fantasy land stuff”, says coach Brad Scott after Saturday night's shock four-point loss to the Brisbane Lions.
Scott was fuming about his team's inept second quarter where it conceded seven goals and allowed the Lions a lead too big to run down.
The Kangaroos coach was reluctant to talk about words he had with Lions vice-captain Tom Rockliff post-match, but was highly annoyed at another inconsistent performance.
The loss leaves the Kangaroos in seventh, two wins and considerable percentage behind fourth-placed Fremantle with eight matches remaining.
"The top four is just fantasy land stuff," Scott said.
"Top four would be great, but you don't want to get bundled out in straight sets because you're not up to it, and at the moment we're not playing footy that's worthy of top four.
"Our challenge for the rest of the year is to play footy that's worthy of being a top four contender and at the moment we're nowhere near that."
After leading by 16 points at quarter-time, Scott hinted that his team became complacent as they coughed up 10 of the next 11 goals before a late comeback.
While pleased with the second half – they dominated the final 10 minutes but were unable to poke their nose in front – Scott said it simply wasn't good enough.
"I would have been just as upset and annoyed and angry as I am now if we'd won because we didn't deserve to, because good teams don't do what we did in the second quarter," he said.
"It's a lesson for our guys that nothing comes easily in the competition, you've got to work for it, and when you stop working, you get exposed," he said.
"We completely lost structure and organisation and it was bitterly disappointing.
"Our players know what happened, five goals from stoppages, [it was] completely unacceptable, disorganised, embarrassing."
Scott said it was best to ask Rockliff what happened in a post-siren incident that followed some tense words between the Lions vice-captain and Kangaroo Brent Harvey.
Scott then spoke with Rockliff on-field.
"I think that's a question you could ask Tom," Scott said when asked what was exchanged between the pair.
"My take on it is there's humble in victory and gracious in defeat. You'd have to ask Tom that question. I'm a coach, I'm not out on the field of battle. I don't know exactly what was exchanged."
