Much like the competition points, Brisbane and North Melbourne's coaches are split on whether the AFL should introduce regular-season extra time.
The second-last Kangaroos and ladder-leading defending premiers Brisbane finished 71-71 in Hobart on Sunday night.
North Melbourne, who rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit, had the better of the chances in the dying stages but couldn't land a killer blow.
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It would have been a sizeable breakthrough win for the struggling club after narrow losses to Essendon and Port Adelaide in recent weeks.
The AFL plays extra time in finals, but Lions coach Chris Fagan was keen to see it brought in for regular rounds.
"I would like extra time. I reckon it would add a bit of fun to footy, a bit more drama," he said.
However, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson indicated he wasn't too fussed, despite being left "flat" after the contest.
"It has been a debate going on for years and years. I'm a bit of a traditionalist. I like extra time in finals," he said.
"At least when you walk away from (a draw) you're not a loser.
"(But) the disappointing thing for both sides is you come trying to secure a win. It's a bit deflating for both 'Fages' and myself."
Calls for the league to bring in regular-season extra time have often sparked debate. There were three draws in 2024 and two the previous year.
North Melbourne's Jy Simpkin said his mindset was to chase a win, rather than try to protect a potential draw.
"(The result) is a weird feeling, but I'm super proud of the boys and the way we stuck in there," he said.
Clarkson was left to lament some wayward set shots throughout the game, but said his side was making progress ahead of a winnable clash against 16th-place Richmond next round.
"It has looked better on the scoreboard the last three weeks without getting a 'W' next to our name. That is where we get true validation," he said.
Fagan praised his side's ticker for getting some competition points, which he said could prove crucial later in the season.
AAP
Scott backs Blicavs as Cats miss chances to down Giants
Geelong coach Chris Scott insists Mark Blicavs would not have had the chance to kick a match-winning goal against GWS if not for his own feats in dragging his side back into the contest.
Blicavs was one of the Cats' best in an instant classic as they fought back after coughing up five of the first six goals at Kardinia Park on Sunday.
The lead changed hands 10 times after the first break and Blicavs could have put Geelong back in front with a little more than a minute left on the clock.
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But his set shot from 30m slammed into the left-hand upright and GWS held on for a 16.9 (105) to 14.17 (101) victory in a tense finish.
Cats teammates Tyson Stengle, Shannon Neale and Shaun Mannagh also missed shots of varying difficulty in time-on, while Patrick Dangerfield also had a chance to further Geelong's lead but chose to pass instead, missing his target.
"He'll be disappointed, but he's the eternal optimist," Scott said of Blicavs.
"That's not to say that he won't be feeling it tonight.
"But I would encourage him, when he feels that disappointment, to remember that without him we're not in the game.
"We thought he was fantastic."
Geelong were belted early by GWS around the stoppages and the visitors shot out to a 24-point lead before quarter-time.
But the Cats hit back, won the overall clearance count 39-31 and enjoyed a 61-46 advantage in inside-50s.
They also managed 31 scores to 25 and had multiple chances to win the match, but came up narrowly short as Jesse Hogan kicked seven goals for the Giants.
Geelong (5-4) now sit seventh, behind the Western Bulldogs and above GWS on percentage.
Jake Stringer was forced off during the second quarter of the Giants' clash against the Cats with another hamstring injury. (AAP Photos: James Ross)
"This is where (AFL) coaching is a little bit like coaching under-12s," Scott said.
"It's kind of like, 'OK, it's not the outcome that we want, but some of the process and the effort and the way we went about getting back into the game was something we should be proud of'.
"In a tight competition if you lose a game by a point or two it feels like the end of the world.
"But these are situations where the closeness of the competition is actually a positive because even the best teams will lose close ones."
Geelong started with key forward Jeremy Cameron in the centre square and Bailey Smith on the wing, and Scott took the blame for their early stoppage issues.
Smith, Blicavs, Tom Atkins and Max Holmes were crucial in tilting the clearance battle the Cats' way.
"We made some errors with the way we structured up," Scott said.
"We took a few educated risks and I thought that actually destabilised us a little bit.
"When you don't get the outcomes you're after it's a little bit the players and a lot the way you set up."
Scott expects Tom Stewart (knee) and Lawson Humphries (concussion) to return against Port Adelaide next Saturday night.
Jack Henry (hamstring) may be left out again, with the Cats then facing the Bulldogs off a five-day break in round 11.
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Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
North Melbourne 10.11 (71) draws with Brisbane 10.11 (71)
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By Chris De Silva
Tristan Xerri dominated the ruck battle all afternoon against the Lions, but the Kangaroos couldn't come away with the win. (Getty Images)
IT IS A DRAW!
North Melbourne pushed and pushed and pushed in the final minute with the ball in their half of the ground, but the Lions' defence holds up strong.
Both teams look absolutely shattered after that. I reckon the Lions are very, very lucky to escape with two points here because they've been outplayed.
Brisbane's defence had to stand up tall in the final quarter, particularly with the way the Kangaroos were dominating the stoppages.
After Zurhaar's miss, the Roos had one good chance to score, but Jacob Konstanty had a kick inside 50 towards Larkey which was brilliantly spoilt by Jack Payne.
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Konstanty had Dylan Stephens running alongside him, and Stephens could have gotten within kicking range had he received the handball.
This is the problem for the Kangaroos, they just don't know how to close out games and win. A more experienced team wins this.
North won the clearance battle 47-32, including a 37-22 edge around the ground, but somehow can't come away with the win.
Tristan Xerri with an absolute monster game in the ruck with 19 disposals, 12 clearances and 36 hitouts.
Luke Parker with 23 disposals, eight tackles and eight clearances.
Dayne Zorko was the leading ball-winner on the ground with 39 disposals.
One minute to go
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By Chris De Silva
Caleb Daniel has the ball at halfback for North.
Will we get the draw?
Zurhaar ties the scores
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By Chris De Silva
Cam Zurhaar takes a contested mark and has a shot on goal from the boundary.
He misses the shot so it's tied up at 71 with 1.18 left on the clock.
Hipwood's miss puts Lions in front
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By Chris De Silva
Eric Hipwood misses a set shot from a tight angle and gives Brisbane a one-point lead with three minutes left.
Still plenty of time.
Rayner levels the scores with five minutes left
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By Chris De Silva
The Lions aren't going anywhere!
Lachie Neale wins the centre clearance and the ball ends up in the hands of Cam Rayner after a terrific contested mark.
Charlie Comben is lucky not to give away a 50m penalty after tackling Rayner to the ground after that mark because he thought it was touched.
The umpire shows some common sense and doesn't give the 50.
Rayner goes back and drills a HUGE set shot.
Darling, the crumber, puts North in front!
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By Chris De Silva
Jack Darling is having a huge last quarter and he's put the Kangaroos in front!
Who would've thought there would be a big marking contest but Darling would be the man on the ground to dribble one home?
Kangaroos leading by a goal with 5.54 left. All of the Kangaroos' off-season recruits have kicked goals in the final term.
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Scores level after Darling's missed banana
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By Chris De Silva
There's six and a half minutes left and we're all knotted up in Hobart!
Jack Darling misses a banana from the boundary after taking an excellent contested mark.
Draw time?
Lions back in front after kicking in danger call
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By Chris De Silva
CONTROVERSIAL!
There's a ball in dispute in the Lions' forawrd 50 and Harry Sheezel attempts to soccer it with Zac Bailey's head over the ball and the umpire gives Bailey a free kick for kicking in danger.
You don't see that called too often, but I think it's the right call. On another day it could've been whistled as contact below the knees as well.
Konstanty puts the Kangaroos in front!
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By Chris De Silva
The Lions have messed about all afternoon and now they've officially got a problem because the Roos are in front!
Jacob Konstanty wins a free kick 30m out from goal after being caught in a high tackle by Ryan Lester.
Konstanty shows nerves of steel to drill the set shot. Still plenty of time, but the Roos have all the momentum right now.
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Parker goals after Andrews' weird tantrum
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By Chris De Silva
Harris Andrews has done what kids call "crashing out" here.
He's pinged for holding the ball after a terrific tackle from Luke Parker, but after the umpire blows the whistle, he weirdly tries to attack Parker for no reason.
Parker is rightly given a 50m penalty for that and he kicks the goal from inside the square.
Parker's got 21 disposals and seven clearances, this is arguably the best game he's played as a North player.
Hipwood drills a timely set shot to settle Lions
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By Chris De Silva
Brisbane with the very quick response!
Zac Bailey finds Eric Hipwood inside 50 with a lovely kick on the run.
Hipwood goes back and slots the set shot from right on the 50m arc.
The ball juuuust evades Tristan Xerri's outstretched fingers on the goal line.
Over to you then, Roos.
Darling draws the Roos closer after big contested mark
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By Chris De Silva
North's veteran recruits combine for a huge goal to open the final quarter!
Luke Parker centres the ball from the 50m arc inside 50 and Jack Darling outpoints Harris Andrews to take a falling chest mark.
Andrews tries to grab the ball off him and makes off like a proper bandit, the umpire isn't having it.
Darling goes back and slots the set shot and it's a four-point game!
Key Event
3QT: Brisbane 7.9 (51) leads North Melbourne 6.6 (42)
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By Chris De Silva
Nick Larkey and Dylan Stephens kicked goals for the Kangaroos in the third quarter against the Lions. (Getty Images)
Brisbane takes a nine-point lead into the final change, but they're lucky to be ahead I reckon.
The Kangaroos will be kicking themselves after some very poor set shot kicking.
Larkey, who is usually so good, had three opportunities but somehow kicked the toughest one and missed the other two.
Luke Parker also missed a great chance from directly in front, hitting the post and leaving coach Alastair Clarkson fuming in the box.
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The Roos are doing a lot right out there tonight.
They lead the inside 50s 38-37 and the clearance battle has been a smashing (North leads 35-23), but they've not been effective going forward.
Dayne Zorko is the leading ball-winner on the ground with 26 disposals, while Harry Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke have 24 apiece.
Cameron with the slick finish, makes Larkey pay
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By Chris De Silva
Charlie Cameron receives a handball in the pocket from Hugh McCluggage and snaps it through off one step.
That'll hurt the the Kangaroos big-time after Larkey missed a set shot from virtually directly in front a few minutes earlier.
Brisbane's lead back to 11 points.
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Larkey makes it three in a row for the Kangaroos!
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By Chris De Silva
We're officially on #UPSETALERT here I reckon!
Nick Larkey with a lovely searching lead and he receives the inch-perfect pass from Luke Parker.
Larkey is an absolute sniper on the set shot and he drills it here to trim Brisbane's lead to just six points.
Stephens draws Kangaroos closer after beautiful sidestep
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By Chris De Silva
A lovely transition play from the Kangaroos results in a goal!
Dylan Stephens shows tons of composure inside 50 after receiving a handball from Finnbar Maley, sidestepping his opponent before kicking truly from directly in front.
Stephens has 20 disposals to go along with his goal.
Unfortunately for Maley, it looks like he's about to be subbed after that goal assist.
