Greater Western Sydney have gone from sleepy to sizzling in one AFL half to beat Essendon by 32 points and move within two points of eighth spot.

GWS kicked just 3.5 in the first half, but slammed 11 goals to four after the long break to record a 14.9 (93) to 8.13 (61) win at Spotless Stadium on Sunday.

It was another low-scoring shocker from the Bombers, who led by 13 points in the second quarter, but kicked just four goals in each half as they slumped to a fourth-straight loss.

GWS, who were coming off successive defeats, looked more threatening in the second half after a suspected shoulder injury meant midfielder Tom Scully was replaced by key forward Cam McCarthy.

The Giants forward line lived up to their name, fielding four players over 190 centimetres in McCarthy, Jeremy Cameron, Rory Lobb and Jon Patton, who played his first game in almost a year.

GWS had 10 goal-kickers but no-one finished with more than two with Cameron, Josh Kelly, Devon Smith and McCarthy each bagging a brace.

Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker each kicked two goals for Essendon, who racked up 55 more possessions than GWS, with Brendon Goddard tallying a match-high 32.

Essendon led by seven and eight points at the first two breaks respectively, despite kicking just two goals in the first quartet and one in the second.

After a nondescript first half, GWS booted five goals to one in the third quarter to take a 16- point buffer into the final term.

They outscored the Bombers six majors to three in the final quarter.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott admits they will take longer than this AFL season to become truly consistent, despite being a more complete team.

They held off a strong challenge from Melbourne to win by 35 points on Sunday at the MCG.

The Kangaroos' 19.13 (127) to 14.8 (92) win was their fifth-straight and meant they improved by one place to sixth on the ladder, just ahead of Richmond on percentage.

Scott said Hawthorn and Fremantle remain the benchmarks for consistent performance. - AAP