The 2009 season may have come to an end for the North Melbourne team, but kangaroos.com.au will still be bringing you all the latest news from around the club in the coming months.

Today we take you through a round by round review of rounds 10-12 of the 2009 season. It could also prove as an armchair guide to help pick the winner of this year's Syd Barker Medal.

North Melbourne 11.9.81 defeated by Brisbane Lions 15.9.99

Video: Post match player interviews
Video: Dean Laidley press conference
News: Match report
News: Roos' immediate post-mortem
News: Loss makes for a bittersweet day

With its fourth win on the board, and the return to form of Daniel Wells and David Hale in the win over Fremantle, North Melbourne went in the Round 10 clash against Brisbane with plenty of confidence.

Brisbane was quick to gain control early though with goals to Justin Sherman and Rhan Hooper breaking the margin out 11 points. After a week at Werribee, Daniel Harris made a strong start with the Roos’ first major, while youngsters Ben Warren and Scott McMahon were the other goal scorers in the first quarter.

North Melbourne worked hard in the second quarter and was able to get to the front within three minutes, but the Lions' big boys Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw fired things up for their team and helped it take a 13 point lead into the main change.

David Hale continued his rich vein of goal kicking form with the first of the third term, but Brisbane had all the answers, a free kick to Rhan Hooper and another goal to James Polkinghorne pushed the Lions 19 points clear at the final break.

Simon Black and Hooper combined early in the last and put the game beyond doubt for the Lions, some late resistance from Warren and Petrie not enough to bridge the gap as Brisbane went on to win by 18 points.

Adam Simpson was again North’s best with 37 possessions, while Warren's four goals, and a strong performance from Hamish McIntosh in the ruck were the other highlights.

Goals: Warren 4, Hale 2, Petrie 2, Thomas, Harris, McMahon, Wells
Best players: Simpson, McIntosh, Warren, Gibson



North Melbourne 9.3.57 defeated by St Kilda 15.13.103

Video: Post match player interviews
Video: Dean Laidley press conference
News: Match report
News: Laidley lauds bravery
News: Roos ran out of legs: Swallow
News: Warren sent to hospital 

No-one expected North Melbourne to challenge an undefeated St Kilda in Round 11, but the Kangaroos had other ideas.

Coming into the match with just four wins compared to the Saints' 11, North Melbourne started the match with enthusiasm and played an exciting brand of football as it broke out to a 22 point lead at the first break.

With the experience of Adam Simpson and Brady Rawlings proving valuable through the middle, the Roos continued to fight hard in the second quarter despite St Kilda's Jason Gram and Brendan Goddard getting plenty of the ball.

North continued to press in the third term, but injuries to Warren, Power and Wright took a major toll as the Saints started to find their feet. Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt took control of the forward line, and the Kangaroos' lead was quickly eliminated.

With just 17 men on the field in the final minutes of the last quarter, North Melbourne was overrun by 46 points. Koschitzke booted six goals for the winners, while Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna were both important in the final stages.

Michael Firrito could be in the votes for the Roos after picking up 18 possessions, as could Josh Gibson who tried hard on Riewoldt.

Goals: Swallow 2, Edwards, Ross, Simpson, Firrito, Petrie, Warren, Thomas
Best players: Firrito, Gibson, Simpson, McIntosh, Harding



North Melbourne 3.6.24 defeated by Adelaide 9.14.68

Video: Dean Laidley press conference
Video: Dean Laidley resignation
News: Match report
News: Forward failure hurting Roos
News: Roos plagued by inefficiency: Jones

Round 12 saw another debut for North Melbourne with Cruize Garlett promoted from the rookie list.

It wasn't an ideal start for the youngster though, the Crows looking more suited to the wet weather at AAMI Stadium as they skipped out to a 16 point lead at the first change.

Adelaide continued on its way in the second term, a goal to Corey Jones in the opening minute the Roos' only major for the first half.

A devastating injury to Jack Ziebell in the third quarter saw the day go from bad to worse for Dean Laidley, and the dominance of Jason Porplyzia up forward for the Crows helped them to a 22 point lead in the premiership quarter.

Lindsay Thomas reduced the margin to 16 points early in the last term, but Adelaide handled the tricky conditions better and eventually kicked away to a 44 point win.

Porplyzia and Scott Thompson were the stars for the Crows, while Nathan Grima, Josh Gibson and Lachie Hansen defended admirably.

The match would see an end of an era for the Kangaroos as Dean Laidley resigned from his position as senior coach in the week following the loss.

Goals: Jones, Edwards, Thomas
Best players: Firrito, Thompson, Simpson, Rawlings, Grima