Alastair Clarkson conceded North Melbourne failed to handle the break in routine during their AFL bye round, following the heaviest defeat of his coaching tenure.
The Kangaroos were belted to the tune of 124 points by ladder leaders Fremantle on Saturday - the equal-seventh greatest losing margin in club history.
Clarkson said his side lacked toughness and resilience in the contest in a "dreadful" display against a vastly superior Dockers outfit, who held North goalless after halftime in their 24.11 (155) to 4.7 (31) victory.
"We were really, really poor in that space and I can only put it down to just not (having) the same routine and resolve that we've had from training session to training session," Clarkson said.
"You have four days off and have a spell, go and rest your minds and rest your bodies, which every side needs.
"But we just came out of this particular bye really, really poorly and we've got a week to try to get ourselves going again."
Adding to North's embarrassment, the horror show against Fremantle came in a "home" game they sold to the WA government.
It was played at Bunbury's Hands Oval, about 175km south of Perth, where the Kangaroos performed far more admirably in a narrow win over West Coast last year.
They next meet the Eagles at Optus Stadium on Saturday in the second of two consecutive WA "home" fixtures.
Clarkson welcomed the chance for the Kangaroos to regroup while spending the week together in the west.
"When you have results like today, the best thing to do is be together and be on the road," Clarkson said.
"I'd reckon it will smarten us all up. If we don't come to a game of footy ready to compete from start to finish, you're going to get your pants pulled down.
"That was certainly the case today, but the beauty of the game is we get another opportunity in seven days' time to try to rectify that.
"But we know exactly where it sits - how hard and tough do we want to be at the contest?"
North defender Riley Hardeman won't play against West Coast after he was concussed before halftime in the Fremantle loss.
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