Veteran Jarrad Waite has booted five goals to help North Melbourne cruise to a 34-point away AFL win over a wasteful Brisbane.
The Kangaroos were never truly troubled by the inexperienced Lions on Saturday, sealing a 17.15 (117) to 11.17 (83) victory in hot conditions at the Gabba to remain undefeated after two rounds.
Waite, in the final year of his contract at Arden Street, showed there is still plenty of life left in his 33-year-old frame with a strong performance up forward, collecting 23 disposals and six marks.
His fifth goal, coming late in the final quarter, was his 50th for North Melbourne.
"He's just been exceptional for us," coach Brad Scott said.
"Waitey leads the charge in terms of our defensive pressure. When we're on with that he often gets the direct rewards."
Daniel Wells also had a day out with 23 touches and seven clearances while the Kangaroos' other multiple goalscorers were Ben Brown (three), Sam Gibson, Nick Dal Santo and the evergreen Brent Harvey (two).
The scoreboard flattered the Lions, who trailed by as much as 43 points early in the last quarter but chipped away at the margin in junk time.
It was a clash between the AFL's most experienced side and its least and it showed.
A lack of composure, both in front of goal and with the ball, as well as a lack of discipline proved costly for the Lions, with their turnovers repeatedly seized upon by the wily visitors in front of 18,021 fans.
"I'm probably as frustrated as I've been for a number of reasons," Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said.
"Everyone is watching in the crowd that you are probably one handball away from a goal and it doesn't quite eventuate.
"I guess they are the things that we hope to work on over time."
The Lions were only missing on-ballers Dayne Beams (knee) and Mitch Robinson (calf) from their best side and made an encouraging start to the match, holding a four-point edge at quarter-time.
But a woeful second term saw them fall 25 points down, kicking two goals to North's six.
They closed to within 16 points early in the third quarter but Dal Santo's second goal effectively broke their resistance.
Brisbane also had too many non-contributors, with Daniel Rich tagged out of the game by North Melbourne's late inclusion Ben Jacobs, who held the midfielder to just three possessions to half-time and a career-low seven for the match.
Off-season recruit Tom Bell (13 touches) and captain Tom Rockliff (10) were also ineffective for the Lions.
Rich (hamstring) and Rockliff (calf) spent most of the last quarter on the bench due to injury and would be in some early doubt for next weekend's daunting trip to Geelong.
Vice-captain Daniel Merrett played his first game of the season but it was one to forget, giving away three free-kick goals, including two in the first quarter.
Share
