Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus accused his players of hoisting a white flag of surrender during a meek AFL loss to North Melbourne on Sunday.

Port's bleak season continued when crushed by 45 points by the surging Kangaroos, who jumped to ninth on the ladder with a fourth consecutive triumph.

But Roos coach Brad Scott said his club would ignore pundits trumpeting a likely return to finals for the first time since 2008.

"We didn't take much notice of the critics when we weren't winning and we're not going to take too much notice of the media experts who think we're flying," Scott said after the resounding 21.10 (136) to 14.7 (91) victory on away soil at AAMI Stadium.

"I don't like to look at where we could end up.

"Last year we got really obliterated by the top four or five sides - I think our best football is good enough, but can we do it on a consistent basis ... we are yet to prove that.

"So until we do that, talking about where we finish is just talk."

North's demolition of a disappointing Port, who remain with just two wins from 13 matches, was created by unrivalled influence of ruckman Todd Goldstein and powerhouse forward Drew Petrie.

Goldstein recorded a club record 54 hit-outs while Petrie kicked four goals and grabbed 11 marks - nine contested.

In contrast, the entire Port side managed just 10 contested marks in a lame display which riled their coach.

"We just rolled over to a fair extent," Primus said.

"We just don't have the ability yet to consistently remain competitive and that has been an issue for us for a few years now and is still rearing its head.

"When the opposition come at us ... we just concede too much.

"We need to get better at it, and our youth need to keep realising that, and when momentum starts to shift, to actually put our hand up instead of the white flag."

Port led by three points at quarter-time but were then overwhelmed as the Roos kicked 15 of the next 19 goals, with onballers Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells both standouts with 27 disposals each.

But coach Scott said North's status would be determined in the next seven matches, a season-defining block of games starting with clashes against St Kilda and Collingwood.

Port's woes worsened with Jasper Pittard tearing a hamstring, defender Alipate Carlile was forced from the field with a hip injury and emerging onballer Hamish Hartlett dislocated a shoulder.

All will likely miss Port's away game against fellow cellar dweller Brisbane next Sunday.

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