North Melbourne has kept its very slim VFLW finals hopes alive with a thrilling eight-point victory over reigning premiers Essendon at the NEC Hangar on Sunday.

With just three games remaining, the 6.9 (45) to 5.7 (37) result sees the Kangaroos remain two wins out of the top six in 10th, while the Bombers are now clinging on to a finals spot.

The Kangaroos survived a final-quarter onslaught from the Bombers who refused to give up, but Zara Flanigan's late goal on the run iced the game just as the home side was piling on the pressure.

Bomber Mia-Rae Clifford's second goal made for a nervous start to the final term when the margin closed to 10 points, before Mackie Sutcliffe responded almost immediately to ease the tension.

But the Dons weren't done yet. Tia Davidge's left-foot snap and then Maddi Wilson's soccer moments later made it a four-point game midway through the last quarter.

Wilson's set shot from directly in front with just over five minutes remaining sailed wide, but a crucial 50m penalty saw Kangaroo Flanigan take full advantage of no player standing on the mark as she launched a booming shot from 40m to seal the win.

BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

North Melbourne senior coach Steph Binder said her side was well prepared for the frantic final stages as the Bombers threw everything at them.

"We train that scenario-based stuff a lot ... whether we are a few points up or a few points down, so the girls well and truly knew what they had to do," she said.

"Creating repeat stoppages, causing congestion, being safe with the ball movement. I had confidence that the girls knew exactly what had to be done to win the game.

"I said to them at three-quarter time, 'we don't need any heroes, we need everyone playing their roles'. And they absolutely did.

"The backs were holding up, the forwards were pushing up to get the ball, the mids were winning the contest.

"When it was there to be won, it was a full team effort."

Madisen Maguire was the Roos' only multiple goalkicker with two majors, Ciara Fitzgerald had 18 disposals and a goal, while Jennifer Guy had 19 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances as she continued her impressive comeback from an ACL tear.

The visitors got the game off to the perfect start through a lightning-quick Maguire shot on goal just two minutes into the first quarter.

Essendon then fired back late in closing stages with a Clifford major sending both teams to the first break with scores level.

A dominant second quarter saw the Roos heap plenty of pressure on the home side, but inaccuracy saw just one goal converted from six scoring shots, while the Bombers were held scoreless.

A great one-two between the returning Felicity Theodore and Georgia Nicholas then saw the latter make no mistake to give the Roos an 11-point lead heading into the main break.

But ill-discipline crept in when the game was up for grabs in the third term as two costly 50m penalties saw the Roos extend their lead through Fitzgerald and later with Maguire when the second penalty led to her kicking her second goal.

Next week will see a competition-wide bye for the King's Birthday weekend, before the Kangaroos get set to take on the top-of-the-table Southern Saints at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

"I said to the girls after the game, 'we've just knocked off the reigning premiers, our season is still alive," Binder said.

"Just because the Saints are on top, we won't take a backward step, we know what it takes to win now and we're just going to keep coming."

Emily Paterno was the only injury concern after she suffered back spasms and was withdrawn at half-time.

ESSENDON                     1.3     1.3     2.5     5.7     (37)
NORTH MELBOURNE     1.3     2.8     4.9     6.9     (45) 

GOALS
Essendon: Clifford 2, Manfre, Davidge, Wilson
North Melbourne: Maguire 2, Nicholas, Fitzgerald, Sutcliffe, Flanigan

BEST  
North Melbourne: Maguire, Fitzgerald, Guy, Nicholas, Flanigan, Theodore

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Paterno (back)