North Melbourne co

North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin has been sidelined with a concussion after a bizarre incident late in the first quarter against Essendon on Sunday.

The Kangaroos midfielder clashed with Sam Durham as they fought for a loose ball out of a centre bounce - but while he stumbled badly, he only lost his footing and never went to ground.

WATCH IN THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jy Simpkin loses bearings in scary concussion incident.

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Commentators initially suspected Simpkin had suffered a shoulder injury.

The 25-year-old was later seen standing on the edge of the team huddle alongside a team doctor when he was approached by caretaker coach Brett Ratten.

Ratten and the doctor shared some words that left Simpkin shattered by the situation, dropping his head into his hands.

North fought back admirably after Simpkin was substituted out to trail by just two points at the main break, but North's day reached a new low just moments before half-time.

Hugh Greenwood copped a head knock and stayed down for some time before he returned to his feet and left the field.

He was ruled out with concussion before the third quarter got underway.

Ratten later confirmed Simpkin and Greenwood will both sit out next week's clash with GWS under the league's mandatory concussion protocols.

Despite being a man down, with Greenwood unable to be replaced, the Kangaroos fought back with six consecutive goals and led by 17 points during the third time.

Essendon kicked six of the next seven majors to turn for home with a lead and got their noses back in front in a nerve-wracking final quarter, boosting their finals hopes in the process.

The Bombers survived the scare when their own sub Massimo D’Ambrosio broke a deadlock and snapped the match-winning goal with two minutes left, holding on to prevail 16.9 (105) to 15.9 (99).

The lead changed hands four times in the last term and scores were level in the final few minutes before D’Ambrosio stepped up with the game on the line.

Kyle Langford booted four goals for Essendon and Zach Merrett finished with a game-high 34 disposals, while Jye Caldwell (27 touches), Jordan Ridley (21) and Nic Martin (21, two goals) were important.

Cameron Zurhaar kicked four goals for North and Ben McKay had some massive moments in defence.

An undermanned midfield led by Will Phillips (28 disposals), Bailey Scott (19) and Harry Sheezel (21) threatened to lift the Kangaroos to a huge upset.

There were early alarm bells for North as their opponents’ ability to waltz out of stoppages led to the Bombers kicking four of the first five goals.

Merrett produced a massive opening term, racking up 17 disposals, five clearances and two goals by the first break as Essendon opened up a 20-point lead.

But Liam Shiels put the clamps on the Bombers’ ball-winner in the second term, limiting him to five touches.

North kicked three unanswered goals in the second term and rattled off the first three majors of the third, with Tarryn Thomas’ snap putting them 17 points up.

Three goals in five minutes put the Bombers back in front in a game of rapidly swinging momentum.

Essendon fans got some light relief in an intense third term when Andrew Phillips’ shanked kick led to a Nic Martin mark - after the ball bounced off his head - and goal to give them an 11-point break at the final change.

There were four lead changes in the final term and North's Jaidyn Stephenson levelled the scores with a brilliant snap with three minutes left, only to be outdone by D’Ambrosio.

- with AAP

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