North Melbourne kept the flicker in their AFL finals hopes, while Greater Western Sydney took a step closer to an unwanted piece of history at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The Giants’ 86-point loss to the rampant Kangaroos was their 13th in a row this season, and they continue to close in on being the first team in AFL/VFL history since Fitzroy in 1964 to go through a season winless.

Drew Petrie booted five goals for the Kangaroos, Lindsay Thomas kicked four and Brent Harvey three as well as 24 possessions as their side dominated to win 19.16 (130) to 6.8 (44).

A forgettable match was over as a contest by the end of the first quarter – the Kangaroos piling on eight goals to one to set up the victory.

GWS moved into damage limitation mode in the second term by putting players behind the ball – a tactic which worked to a degree as the sides booted four goals apiece in the quarter.

But the Kangaroos had the better of a dire second half, restricting the Giants to just one goal.

Critical to the Giants breaking their duck this season appears to be next Saturday’s clash with fellow strugglers the Western Bulldogs in Canberra.

The Bulldogs lost to fellow battlers Melbourne this weekend, and have won just three of their 13 matches this campaign.

North move to a 5-8 win-loss record, continuing to keep alive their faint chances of making this season’s finals.

Their only concern to come out of the match centres on Thomas, who faces match review panel scrutiny after what appeared a possible headbutt on Giants youngster Jacob Townsend.

The Giants lost leading goalkicker Jeremy Cameron as a late withdrawal before kick-off.