Gary Ablett put on a midfield masterclass but it wasn’t enough to get the Gold Coast over the line against North Melbourne.

The dual Brownlow medalist oozed class finishing with 45 disposals (27 contested), a career-high 18 clearances, nine tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal but it was the Kangaroos who ran out 16.11 (107) to 14.10 (94) victors.

Callum Ah Chee gave the SUNS hope with his second goal of the night late in the fourth, but Ben Brown's sixth goal from the goal square after a string of handballs gave North the breathing space it needed.

Captain Tom Lynch kicked three from four, with fellow forwards Peter Wright, Brandon Matera, and Ah Chee also working their way onto the board with two apiece. 

Matt Rosa was taken off early in the second, putting the Gold Coast a man down, after his head collided with an opponent’s knee in his desperation to win the ball.

Aaron Hall was also taken off in the fourth with a suspected concussion.

In his post-match press conference Senior Coach Rodney Eade said the young team, especially the defenders, showed courage.

"We just shot ourselves in the foot. I was proud of their effort, proud of their courage," Eade said.

"I thought some players were unbelievable in what they had to do against big odds, but we just shot ourselves in the foot with our ball use.”

NORTH MELBOURNE   3.4   7.8   12.9   16.11 (107)
GOLD COAST                   4.4   7.6   11.8   14.10 (94)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 6, Hrovat 2, Gibson, Turner, Higgins, Simpkin, Williams, Hansen, Anderson, McDonald
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Wright 2, Matera 2, Barlow 2, Ah Chee 2, Sexton, Ablett, Bowes 

BEST 
North Melbourne: Brown, Higgins, Ziebell, Garner, Tarrant, Mullett
Gold Coast: Ablett, Sexton, Lynch, Miller

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Nil
Gold Coast: Kade Kolodjashnij (illness) replaced in the selected side by Matt Shaw, Matt Rosa (concussion),

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, Williamson, Pannell

Official crowd: 15,431 at Etihad Stadium