Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has slammed his side's "diabolical" performance after their finals hopes took a hit in a four-point upset loss to North Melbourne.

Cam Zurhaar kicked six goals - including the match-winner - as the Kangaroos snapped their 14-match losing streak four days after David Noble was sacked as coach.

The Tigers won the inside-50 count in a landslide (67-46) but failed to make their territorial dominance count on the scoreboard.

The Tigers are now clinging to eighth spot on percentage alone.

"Our general intent in the first half was poor and our pressure rating of 1.6 was abysmal," triple-premiership coach Hardwick said.

"Our system itself held up...we just didn't execute.

"It's not as if they were hard shots on goal - we kicked 1.9 from inside 30 metres.

"We're paid to kick goals, we didn't, and that's the reality of it.

"It was a good win by North - their hardness and their ability to play quick was good - but all in all, if you look at that template, we should win."

Veteran spearhead Jack Riewoldt was wayward in front of goal with 2.6 to his name, while third-gamer Noah Cumberland kicked 3.4.

Hardwick said Jake Aarts would have gone back to take his set shot in the dying seconds if he had his time again, but the coach refused to blame that moment for the defeat.

"There's numerous reasons and the last defensive-50 goal (to Zurhaar) was poor," Hardwick said.

"We can't let a guy come from the other side of the pack and just stroll through.

"It was ridiculous and probably sums us up really - it's Richmond killing Richmond at the moment."