First quarter: North Melbourne 6.7 (43) to Melbourne 2.5 (17)
The match began with five behinds – three to Melbourne and two to the Roos – before North Melbourne’s Ben Brown kicked off proceedings at the six-minute mark.
It was the first of three in a row from the Kangaroos, as they claimed an 18-point lead.
Cam Pedersen opened Melbourne’s account at the 12-minute mark, when he kicked a long bomb from just inside the centre square.
But it would be the first of only two red and blue goals for the term – Nathan Jones was the other goalkicker – as North Melbourne booted six majors for the quarter. At quarter-time, the Kangas led by 26 points.
Michael Hibberd and Jordan Lewis had nine disposals each by the first break, as Kayne Turner had eight for North Melbourne.
Second quarter: North Melbourne 8.9 (57) to Melbourne 8.7 (55)
Melbourne started the second term in far better fashion. Mitch Hannan opened the quarter with two in four minutes and when Jack Viney kicked truly soon after, the margin was cut to eight points.
After an edgy first term, it became a spiteful second period, with several spot fires developing. At one stage, Bernie Vince was forced to leave the field, after he copped a punch in the stomach. He spent several minutes on the bench, before resuming.
Although things settled somewhat, there was an undercurrent for the rest of the quarter, and it was just before time-on that North landed back-to-back goals to lead by 21 points.
But when Hannan bobbed up with his third at the 22-minute mark, Pedersen landed his second and Sam Frost went bang from the centre square, Melbourne produced three in four minutes to reduce the deficit to just two points at half-time.
Hibberd had 16 touches by the main change, as Jack Ziebell and Turner had 11 each for the Roos.
Third quarter: North Melbourne 12.13 (85) to Melbourne 9.9 (63)
North Melbourne got off to a flyer in the second half – when Taylor Garner nailed one a minute in – and it set the scene for a dominant third term by the Roos.
The Kangas booted five goals to one, claiming a 22-point lead at three quarter-time.
Brown was imposing with three goals to have five by the final change.
Neville Jetta was Melbourne’s only goalkicker for the period, although Tom Bugg could’ve joined him, had he not kicked two behinds to close the quarter – including a kick after the siren.
Hibberd had 25 disposals entering the last quarter and Ben Cunnington had 20 touches for the Roos.
Final quarter: North Melbourne 15.14 (104) d Melbourne 13.12 (90)
Melbourne needed a big last quarter, if it was to produce a come-from-behind victory – and it got the start it needed.
The red and blue booted the first three goals, via Christian Salem, Clayton Oliver and Jordan Lewis, to get to within two points. But the Demons also kicked three behinds during that period, with Bugg booting two more behinds to have four for the match, while Bernie Vince missed a snap shot.
North Melbourne got its first for the term at the 15-minute mark, when Garner booted his second and when Wood followed up with his third, the Roos were up by 14 points.
Dean Kent pegged it back to eight points at the 24-minute mark, but when Luke McDonald answered two minutes later, the Roos won by 14 points.
Hibberd had a game-high – and equal career-best 34 disposals – as Cunnington and Sam Gibson had 26 each for the Roos.
