North Melbourne kept their hopes of an AFL top-four finish alive with a come-from-behind eight-point win over Brisbane at Gold Coast Stadium.

In front of a crowd of 10,037, the Kangaroos waved goodbye to their Gold Coast experiment with a gritty eight-point win over a wasteful Lions team, 13.14 (92) to 11.18 (84).

Trailing by three points at the final break, the Roos kicked three goals to one in a dour final term, to now trail fourth-placed Sydney only on percentage.

Sydney play the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.

North lost captain Adam Simpson to a hip problem before the opening bounce but the team started white-hot.

The Kangaroos dominated the opening stanza, kicking five of the first six goals, including three to Gold Coast product David Hale.

Brisbane finally rallied with goals late in the term to Daniel Bradshaw and Anthony Corrie, keeping them within 15 points at the first break.

The Lions came out firing in the second quarter booting five goals to one.

Forward spearhead Jonathan Brown, limited to just three touches in the first quarter, roared to life with four goals in the second as the Lions started to dominate.

His fourth, after a typically strong mark and conversion, put the Lions in front for the first time in the match and Bradshaw's third gave them a handy 10-point lead at the main break.

The Kangaroos lifted after the resumption, kicking the next four goals to open up a handy 11-point lead.

But again the Lions came storming back, Brown's fifth stemming the tide before Bradshaw's fourth restored the lead for Brisbane going into the final break.

Another Bradshaw goal early in the last, following a spectacular grab in front of goal, gave the Lions some breathing space.

But then, as in recent weeks, the wheels started to fall off.

Travis Johnstone missed a golden chance to bury the Roos, spraying a running kick from close range.

Less than a minute later, Lachlan Hansen goaled at the other end and another goal moments later again gave North Melbourne the lead - one they did not relinquish.

With a tough draw to come, Brisbane now face an uphill battle to make the eight and will rue missed shots on goal as well as another last-quarter fadeout after similar losses to Melbourne and Richmond in the last month.

For the Kangaroos, Daniel Wells, Daniel Harris and Gavin Urquhart were superb while once again the bulk of Brisbane's scoring was left to Brown and Bradshaw.

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