The Kangaroos overcame a slow start to kick 12 goals to four after half-time to record the 19.10 (124) to 12.11 (83) victory - just their second for the season - with Edwards passing his previous best bag of four AFL goals to play an integral part in the result.
For the Demons, things have gone from bad to worse. They left Etihad Stadium after conceding a first-term lead of 32 points and with another two players on the casualty list.
Colin Garland injured his ankle in the first term which coach Dean Bailey admitted didn't look good while Rohan Bail suffered a suspected posterior cruciate ligament injury.
It is the first time since 1980-84 the Kangaroos have beaten the Demons in nine consecutive games, with that previous winning streak extending for a total of 16 matches.
The last time the Demons broke through for a win against the Roos was in round 20, 2006 at the MCG when Neale Daniher was coach, David Neitz captain and the margin 50 points.
Bailey has also now lost all seven of his clashes against the Kangaroos since becoming Melbourne coach in 2008.
The week leading into the North Melbourne clash was tumultuous for the Demons. They lost Mark Jamar (knee) and Jack Grimes (foot) in their win over Adelaide on Sunday, and then encountered the Jack Trengove saga that stretched from Monday's match review panel finding until Thursday's failed attempt to have his three-game suspension overturned at the AFL Appeals Board.
But, Bailey refused to entertain any of that was a distraction or affected the result.
How the game changed
The Demons built their 24-point quarter-time lead by employing the tactic they've utilised more than any other side this season recently - a willingness to play on after marking. In the past four rounds, the Demons have played on after 49 per cent of marks, and their pacy ball movement in the opening quarter enabled them to have six more inside 50s than their opponents. In the second quarter, the Roos stymied their ability to do that with combative football and made them chip the ball around more, which reduced their scoring ability and then their lead to just seven points by half time.
What it means
Melbourne fears Etihad stadium. The Demons haven't won there since round 19, 2007, when they beat the Western Bulldogs by 42 points, meaning they've lost eight in a row at the waterside venue. It also leaves Bailey to ask his players just what changed in their mindset - and skill execution - in just a week since they easily beat Adelaide at the MCG.
What the coach said
Melbourne: Dean Bailey
"We didn't play well for three quarters but we started the game well.
"They're professional footballers so once the siren goes and the umpire's bounced the ball, you're into the game; you're not into anything else.
"I don't think [the Trengove incident] was a distraction, to say that it was the reason we didn't play well [isn’t true].
"We started well. It was our inability to execute under pressure which was disappointing for two and a half quarters of the last three."
Toyota AFL Dream Team highlight
North Melbourne: Amazingly three Roos scored 130 points or more. Daniel Wells (150) ruckman Todd Goldstein (136) and Aaron Edwards (130) all played a major part in North Melbourne's fightback from a 24-point deficit at quarter time.
The next four
North Melbourne: The Roos have some very winnable games coming up. Travelling to the Gabba to face the Brisbane Lions will be a challenge, as will the Sydney Swans the week after but Adelaide (at Etihad Stadium) and Gold Coast (at Metricon Stadium) are shaping as two games North Melbourne have a good chance of winning.
Match details
North Melbourne 3.2 7.5 14.7 19.10 (124)
Melbourne 7.2 8.6 10.10 12.11 (83)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Edwards 6, Wells 3, Harvey 3, Hansen 2, Goldstein 2, Adams, Speight, Harper
Melbourne: Jurrah 3, Maric 3, Newton 2, Petterd 2, Watts, Bartram
BEST
North Melbourne: Wells, Edwards, Swallow, Goldstein, Garlett
Melbourne: Davey, Warnock, Martin, Frawley, Watts
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Cunnington (illness) replaced before the game by Garlett
Melbourne: Garland (ankle), Bail (knee), Martin (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Colin Garland (leg) replaced by Jamie Bennell in the third quarter
Melbourne: Jack Ziebell replaced by Ben Speight in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Bowen, Wenn
Official crowd: 23, 536 at Etihad Stadium
