North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow says the Kangaroos must be stronger mentally if they’re to bounce back from Sunday’s drubbing at the hands of Adelaide.

North were comprehensively outplayed by the Crows for most of the match on their way to a shock 77-point defeat at Adelaide Oval.

A fuming Brad Scott labelled the performance “insipid” and Swallow admitted a tougher mental approach was required.

“If we get a change in mindset I’m sure we’ll be able to turn it around pretty quickly,” Swallow said after a recovery session at Elwood beach on Monday.

“Coming off such a long pre-season you’d think the boys would come out and be ready to play. “I think at times it was there, but we just didn’t put it out there for 100 per cent of the time.”

The loss was North’s sixth round-one defeat in succession with Swallow unable to explain the disappointing string of results.

Scott warned some players would pay the price for the performance at the selection table ahead of Sunday’s clash against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium.

Swallow agreed that the Roos had plenty of players who didn’t make the trip to Adelaide who could be in line for a call up, but cautioned against reading too much into the result.

“It was disappointing, and the performance was unacceptable, but it is only one game,” he said. “It’s a long year, we’ve got plenty of time to rectify it and try to get our season back on track. “We don’t want to be having those performances and saying that, but we’ve got great confidence in what we can do.”