North Melbourne's caretaker coach Darren Crocker couldn't fault the efforts of his players in their 15-point loss to Sydney on Sunday, offering a typically blunt assessment for such a proud working-class AFL club.

"I'm really disappointed for the boys because they are working their knacker off to try and improve and get better," said Crocker, who has guided North to a 22-point loss to third-placed Western Bulldogs and another solid effort at the SCG in his two matches in charge.

"The last two weeks I think both the Bulldogs and Sydney have had to pull out all stops to get over the top of us.

"So we are becoming a tough side to beat but in saying that we're not into having honourable losses as well so we're just hoping that at some stage these guys do get some reward for our effort."

No Kangaroos player was more deserving than defender Josh Gibson, who had a huge game on Sydney's dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes. Gibson grabbed 10 marks and 26 possessions.

"I know Adam kicked two goals and had 16-odd touches but I thought Gibbo was terrific in a few one-on-one (contests), both winning the one-on-ones and halving them," Crocker said.

"So I thought he could hold his head up pretty high.

"I said last week that since I took over the way they've applied themselves around the place to their craft has been spot on. I'd just like them to get some reward for effort at some stage."

The Kangaroos, who have four wins from 14 matches and face the Hawks in Launceston next Sunday, are being encouraged by Crocker to be attacking and take risks.

Captain Brent Harvey is a key to their game plan and had 28 possessions in his comeback game from an elbow injury against the Bulldogs. But the tiny midfielder was quiet on Sunday against Swans tagger Kieren Jack.

"He just got a kick on the toe last week and that hampered him throughout the week," Crocker said.

"He wasn't able to do a lot of the training which was disappointing from where he's come from with his elbow injury.

"But he got out there and I thought he had a reasonable impact on the game without being the dominant player that he was a little bit more last week."

Crocker said Andrew Swallow had worked hard along with Scott McMahon who had a good game on Sydney full-forward Michael O'Loughlin (two goals).

Half-forward Corey Jones kicked three second-quarter goals while Adam Simpson and Brady Rawlings were busy.

"Their (Sydney's) handball receives were high so they were running right throughout the game," Crocker said.

"Whereas I just felt that our work rate and the game wore on we got a little more tired and couldn't maintain the work rate that is required to win games of AFL footy."

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