Brisbane coach Michael Voss says the Lions must eliminate 20-minute lapses from AFL games, but has put the onus on himself to get things right.

The Lions were left ruing a poor first quarter on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium, when North Melbourne kicked seven goals to two.

Brisbane mounted a comeback through Brendan Fevola's five goals and Jonathan Brown's three, but the headstart was pivotal in the Kangaroos' one-point win, 12.18 (90) to 13.11 (89).

After four wins to start the season, the Lions have a 5-6 win-loss record at the halfway point of the season, with the round-10 win over Collingwood the only bright spot in the past seven rounds.

Voss said Brisbane had developed a habit of producing 20-minute lapses in recent games, and they needed to get better at preventing opposition sides kicking bursts of goals.

"It's that composure of thinking and at this point in time we're not in that stage of being able to shut up shop a little bit and just that thinking of being able to get through," Voss said.

"We practise it, we've got the strategies in place, but at this point in time we certainly aren't executing it.

"I take responsibility for that because it's up to me to be able to teach them.

"It's up to me to be able to ensure that when they get into those positions they can think through it.

"... I have to be able to sit here and say that's not good enough from my end and I've got to be better than that and we've got to be able to perhaps teach a little bit better."

The Lions will likely need to win at least seven of their remaining 11 games if they are to secure another finals berth, and Voss said every match had now become "super critical".

The Lions play the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Sunday, but will be without small defender Ash McGrath (hamstring) and possibly key backman Matt Maguire (foot).

Voss said McGrath could be sidelined for up to six weeks after he was injured just before half-time against North, while Maguire experienced foot soreness towards the end of the game.

The Lions are likely to take a cautious approach to Maguire given his history of leg injuries.

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