The rivalry between North Melbourne and Essendon is filled with off-field heat, on-field scuffles, and marshmallows, and extends back even further than the Kangaroos' 1925 entry into the VFL.

As the next instalment drops at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon, here - in no particular order - are some of the best individual Kangaroo performances against the Bombers from the past 10 years.

Elimination Final, 2014 - Drew Petrie

While maybe not as dominant in terms of four-quarter performances from the others on this list, Drew Petrie's final-term takeover at the MCG is a period Roos fans will remember fondly.

The key forward smashed through two majors as time ticked away - with the first igniting an iconic 'Frank the Tank' celebration - to clinch a memorable victory.

He finished with two goals, 11 touches and five marks.

Round 16, 2015 – Todd Goldstein

Talk about gold class. North Melbourne's big man was unstoppable under the Friday night lights as he propelled his side to a 25-point win, with support from Brent Harvey (35 disposals), Jack Ziebell (23 disposals, three goals), and Nick Dal Santo (34 disposals) in midfield.

In a difference-making performance, Goldstein finished with a colossal 56 hitouts, 27 disposals, nine score involvements, eight clearances, eight marks, and a goal. It was no surprise when he earned the three votes for best on ground on Brownlow Medal night, plus a maximum 10 AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award votes.

Round 10, 2021 – Ben Cunnington

A first-half blitz from the Bombers set them up for victory when the sides met in May at Marvel Stadium, but the result masked a typically resilient performance from one of the greatest modern-day Roos.

Leading a young midfield, the hardened veteran was at his ball-winning best, notching a game-high 18 contested possessions from his 34 disposals while playing a hand in eight scores.

He slotted North Melbourne's first goal of the clash with an opportunistic left-foot snap and his nine clearances were the most by a Roo, second only to Essendon's Darcy Parish (11).

Elimination Final, 2014 – Levi Greenwood

There was no shortage of remarkable efforts on the evening the Roos took out 2014's knockout final at the MCG by 12 points, but none were greater than Greenwood's.

Flanked by Andrew Swallow (23 disposals, four clearances) and Cunnington (30 disposals, one goal) in the Kangaroo engine room, Greenwood shone on what became a memorable night by winning a team-high 32 touches and laying an equal team-high seven tackles.

The No.24 slotted his side's second goal of the game following a piercing Daniel Wells assist by foot, and he rose to the occasion in the fourth term, collecting 15 disposals and several centre clearances when the team needed him most.

Elimination Final, 2014 – Scott Thompson

While Ben Brown, Lindsay Thomas and Drew Petrie were doing the sharpshooting down forward in that September classic, one man was pivotal in closing the door down back.

Key defender Thompson was tremendous in denying Essendon's forward fleet a winning score, racking up game-highs in intercept possessions (14) and marks (13, including seven intercept marks).

Not only did Thompson lead the way behind the ball, he pushed up the ground to send the Roos inside 50 seven times and notch eight score involvements.

Round 7, 2015 – Jack Ziebell

In the same season Goldy shone against the Bombers, Ziebell had his own day out in the clubs' first meeting that year, earning 10 coaches' votes.

Vice-captain at the time, he was bull-like at stoppages, registering 11 clearances for the match. He was equally as impressive when using the ball, with his clean skill execution a standout in North Melbourne's 11-point triumph.

Two of his 29 disposals were goals, with his second a thumping kick from the centre square, bouncing home to ice the game.

Round 17, 2019 – Ben Brown

Though the day was soured by a late game-winning goal from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Brown's heroics inside forward 50 were almost enough to drag the Roos over the line.

With North Melbourne down by three goals at the final change, the spearhead kicked two of his six goals in the fourth quarter; his second putting the Roos two points in front.

Although the result wasn't to be, Brown earned nine coaches' votes off the back of his six-goal, 12-mark (six contested), and 18-disposal performance.

Round 17, 2019 – Robbie Tarrant

Though Brown earned the most plaudits for his six-goal haul in this game, Robbie Tarrant's contribution behind the ball was just as influential as the Roos hunted an upset win.

Opposing an avalanche of Essendon inside 50s, the recently retired Syd Barker medallist tallied 14 intercept possessions, 12 rebound 50s and 11 marks. He finished with 22 disposals, doing his utmost over four quarters to keep his side in the fight.

Round 21, 2013 – Daniel Wells

In the clubs' only 2013 meeting, Wells was in damaging form throughout North Melbourne's commanding 45-point victory.

While the clash is remembered by many Shinboner fans for Nathan Grima popping up in the last term to whack through his first career major, it was the dynamic 'Wellsy' who constantly exposed Essendon's defence.

He finished with 17 disposals and four goals; his last coming off a tearing four-bounce run from half-back to inside 50.

Drew Petrie played an important role down forward with three goals and 10 marks, while Greenwood's 38 disposals saw him and Wells both poll nine coaches' votes.

Round 8, 2016 – Sam Gibson

The Roos were rolling in the early stages of 2016 and stood with a 7-0 record heading into Docklands before challenging an Essendon outfit that was hit hard by player bans in the off-season.

They held the Bombers to just four points in the first half and led by 50 points at the long break, but needed the hard-running Gibson to prevent the Dons from recording an unlikely comeback victory.

Gibson was irrepressible on his way to 15 marks, eight score involvements, seven inside 50s and an equal career-high disposal tally of 36, ensuring the Roos held on to win by 14 points. He was unanimously judged best afield by coaches Brad Scott (North Melbourne) and John Worsfold (Essendon).

Round 20, 2022 – Jy Simpkin

It was a career-high afternoon for Simpkin when the clubs went head-to-head in 2022.

En route to his second Syd Barker Medal in as many seasons, Simpkin was outstanding and claimed 41 disposals to go with six clearances, six inside 50s and five tackles in the 48-point loss.

Despite Essendon leaving with the four points, the then vice-captain's performance saw him rewarded by Essendon coach Ben Rutten and interim North Melbourne coach Leigh Adams with five coaches' votes.