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NORTH Melbourne has lifted itself to seventh spot on the AFL ladder, overcoming a sluggish first half to post a 54-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
After trailing by 11 points at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter, and trailing the inside 50s 36-18 at half-time, the Kangaroos piled on 13 of the last 15 goals to win 18.7 (115) to 8.13 (61).
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In an error-riddled contest in perfect conditions with the roof open, Roos spearhead Drew Petrie was a beacon, bagging five goals - he could have snared a couple more - in a match-defining contest with Bulldogs star defender Brian Lake, who received a rare beating.
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Veteran Brent Harvey was a great generator of play, particularly in the critical third term, finishing with a team-high 32 disposals and a goal.
The Kangaroos strengthened their finals claims by leapfrogging (by just 0.06 per cent) Essendon, who face a tough assignment against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
It was the Roos' seventh win in their past eight games, and their fourth in a row. Meanwhile, the Dogs have now lost their past seven by an average of 57 points.
Kangaroos coach Brad Scott was pleased with his team's ability to adhere to the game plan and overcome the Dogs' counter-measures.
"You can't go in with a game plan and just say 'We're going to roll it out' and hope the opposition don't counter it'," he said.
"You've got to be able to adapt and you've got to be able to assess each game on its merits. That was a good game for us today in terms of that. It's more good practice at getting that balance right."
For Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, the game had a familiar ending. And he provided what has become a familiar post-match assessment.
"With all those young people out there, they showed in the first half that they’re good enough," he said. "It's being able to do it for longer now, and that's what we're most disappointed in, and that's what we're going to keep working away at."
The last time the teams met - at the same venue in round seven - the Bulldogs upset North by 18 points. In the second term another boilover appeared possible.
The Roos appeared to lack their usual intensity in the first half and often overused handball as a result of the Bulldogs' pressure and positioning.
By half-time young Dog midfielder Mitch Wallis had amassed a game-high 20 disposals (10 contested).
The Roos awoke from their slumber in the third term, with the likes of Ryan Bastinac (31 touches) skipper Andrew Swallow (26), Ben Cunnington (27) Liam Anthony (28 and two goals) and Sam Gibson (26) joining veterans Petrie and Harvey in the rout.
The Bulldogs will be disappointed by yet another second-half fadeout. Among the best for the losers were midfielders Matthew Boyd (a game-high 34 disposals), Wallis (25), Ryan Griffen (29) and Tom Liberatore (24).
Liam Picken restricted Roos play-maker Daniel Wells to just 17 touches, although Wells contributed two goals.
The Dogs' two debutants Jason Johannisen and Michael Talia showed great promise, and defender Talia even managed to kick a lifting goal in the first term.
Western Bulldogs 3.1 6.5 7.7 8.13 (61)
North Melbourne 3.3 7.3 11.7 18.7 (115)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Addison 2, Dickson 2, Campbell, Giansiracusa, Grant, Talia?
North Melbourne: Petrie 5, Tarrant 3, Anthony 2, Harper 2, Wells 2, Garlett, Gibson, Hansen, Harvey
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Wallis, Boyd, Griffen, Liberatore, Roughead, Dickson
North Melbourne: Bastinac, Petrie, Cunnington, Harvey, Swallow, Gibson, Anthony
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Nathan Djerrkura replaced Jason Tutt in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Aaron Mullet replaced Jamie MacMillan at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Wenn, Armstrong
Official crowd: 21, 599 at Etihad Stadium
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