A SECOND half surge by North Melbourne has led Melbourne to a 59-point loss at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
A dominant final quarter by the Kangaroos, where they kicked eight goals to Melbourne's one, blew out the margin from 18 points at three-quarter time to nearly 10 goals.
The Roos kicked six goals in six minutes and 16 seconds of game time to start the final term.
North Melbourne's midfield, led by ruck Tristan Xerri (29 hitouts, 12 clearances) and Tom Powell (31 disposals), were the difference along with dangerous forwards Cam Zurhaar and Paul Curtis.
A shining light for Melbourne was the form of their four-time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver, who was back to his best, and small forward Kade Chandler, who finished with three goals.
The Demons will be waiting to find out the results of an injury to forward Matthew Jefferson, who kicked two goals on debut in round one but left the ground with a hand injury at the quarter-time break and didn't return.
GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Curtis 3, Larkey 3, Darling 2, Scott, McKercher, Simpkin, Konstanty, Parker, Powell, Xerri
Melbourne: Chandler 3, Fritsch, Petracca, Turner, Henderson, van Rooyen, Oliver
BEST
North Melbourne: Xerri, Powell, Zurhaar, Curtis Daniel, Comben
Melbourne: Oliver, Chandler, Petracca, Gawn, Lindsay, Viney
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Melbourne: Jefferson (hand)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Dylan Stephens (replaced Will Phillips in the fourth quarter)
Melbourne: Taj Woewodin (replaced Matthew Jefferson in the second quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium
