North Melbourne salvaged their AFL season by thwarting a Brisbane Lions comeback and winning by one point at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Levi Greenwood wobbled a miracle goal from 40m out on the wrong angle for a left-footer to regain the Kangaroos the lead with just over one minute remaining, and the Roos held on to win 12.18 (90) to 13.11 (89).

Greenwood marked unattended but appeared little chance given North's goal kicking yips in the second half, but his "helicopter" punt floated through the middle.

North were on the verge of being overrun by the Lions, as Brisbane's Amon Buchanan earned the visitors the lead with about two minutes left when he was awarded a free kick for holding the ball against North's Scott Thompson.

North led by 40 points in the first quarter after kicking seven of the first eight goals and were still up by 42 points just before half-time.

But Lions forwards Brendan Fevola and Jonathan Brown combined for five goals in the third quarter to give the Lions a sniff of another comeback win, following last week's victory over Collingwood.

The Lions kicked the first three of the final quarter to pinch the lead before Greenwood kicked truly.

Greenwood's goal was just North's second in the second half, as the Roos racked up 2.11 from just before half-time.

Key forward Lachie Hansen looked like he had cost North dearly late in the game when he had the chance to go back and take a kick at goal after marking, but ran on and dribbled through a behind, and Buchanan goaled shortly after.

North's win broke a run of two successive heavy defeats, to the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, and gave Brad Scott's side a 5-6 win-loss record.

Brisbane are perched on the same line despite their brave comeback, as Fevola finished with five goals and Brown three after both were quiet early.

The Lions dominated after half-time as Daniel Rich, Travis Johnstone and Luke Power used the ball well to provide Fevola and Brown with chances.

But despite the two forwards' impact in the third quarter, neither had a big say in the last, as Fevola did not get a touch and Brown missed a set shot early.

North's win was reward for their superb first quarter, when they moved the ball expertly out of defence and hurt the Lions for every turnover.

Hansen gave the Kangaroos a focal point in attack, skipper Brent Harvey was solid throughout and Andrew Swallow was influential in the first quarter.

Scott said it was "incredibly frustrating" watching his side's lead be whittled down, but commended North for holding firm.

"We really set the game up really well in the first half, it was a bit of deja vu from the Adelaide game really, where we set the game up," he said. "We deserved to win the game, I felt, and to lose it would have been heart-breaking, but what was fantastic is that the guys did all the hard work early and when headed really stood up."

He praised Greenwood for his nerves under pressure.

Lions coach Michael Voss said the costly first quarter was another example of a 20-minute patch where Brisbane were not able to match their opponents.

"It becomes quite costly because you look at the stats and they've kicked seven goals in the first quarter and five for the rest of the match," he said.

In more bad news for the Lions, defender Ash McGrath hurt his hamstring and could be sidelined for up to six weeks, while key backman Matt Maguire finished the game with foot soreness.

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