North Melbourne beat the Western Bulldogs by 23 points at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, 15.10 (100) to 11.11 (77), in front of 25,052 people.

The Kangaroos led at every change. They kicked 6.0 to 2.3 in the opening quarter and were 26 points clear at half time. The Bulldogs closed to 10 points by three quarter time, 12.7 (79) to 10.9 (69), then managed a single goal in the last term while North kicked three.

Paul Curtis kicked four goals from 19 disposals. Luke Davies-Uniacke had 31 disposals and two goals and was the Kangaroos' best, with Harry Sheezel, Luke Parker, Cameron Zurhaar and George Wardlaw also among them. Naughton and Kennedy kicked two each for the Bulldogs, and seven other players kicked one apiece.

Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli were the Bulldogs' most productive. It was not enough against a side that had lost five in a row and had not beaten a top eight opponent under Alastair Clarkson until Thursday.

The result leaves the Bulldogs eighth on 48 points from 12 wins and nine losses, at 93.9 per cent. Geelong holds seventh on the same 48 points at 117.2. Collingwood is ninth on 46 points at 105.6 and has a game in hand, having played 20 matches to the Bulldogs' 21.

Percentage was the problem before Thursday night and it is worse now. The Bulldogs are the only side in the top eight under 100 per cent, and the loss took them from 94.83 to 93.9. Two matches remain, against Carlton and Melbourne, and on those numbers a finish level on points with Collingwood goes against them.

Neither of the two matches left is soft. Carlton is 10th on 40 points at 97.0 per cent and out of the eight but not out of form. Melbourne is sixth on 52 points at 107.8, level with Adelaide and Brisbane and playing for a top four spot of its own.

North Melbourne moves to 36 points from nine wins and 12 losses, at 90.9 per cent, and sits 13th.

Tim English left with a knee concern. North's Aidan Corr did not play the second half after hurting his back.

Round 22 continues at the Gabba on Friday night, where Hawthorn, third on 58 points, plays Brisbane, fifth on 52. Brisbane is without co-captain Hugh McCluggage, out with a calf injury for the third time this season, and Keidean Coleman, who is concussed. Hawthorn regains Mitch Lewis from concussion, Karl Amon from a hand injury and Ned Reeves in the ruck.