Rhyce Shaw felt more pressure on Friday night, but he couldn't quite put a finger on why.

Shaw shed his caretaker tag this week when North Melbourne rubber-stamped him as Brad Scott's long-term successor as coach, but that news coincided with the club's 150th celebrations.

He was unsure whether the increased pressure was to do with the former, the latter or both, but the match ended in another victory – after a slow start – as his impressive run in charge continued.

"I don't know if I can differentiate between the pressure of putting on a good performance because it's our 150th celebration, or it was because I'm senior coach now," Shaw told reporters.

"But I felt as though we wanted to perform. It was a big occasion, and I was up for it and I know the boys were up for it, and the sense before the game was really upbeat and I felt as though we were right on – and I read it wrong.

"But, to the boys' credit, they came back and fought really hard and really turned the game and I was really pleased with that, and I think that's the hallmark of good teams if you can do that."

Hawthorn had cause for a celebration of its own, with Shaun Burgoyne breaking the AFL games record for indigenous players, and threatened to spoil the Kangaroos' occasion when it shot 27 points clear.

However, North turned the match on its head after quarter-time, kicking 11 of the last 15 goals to hop away to a deserved 22-point win that delighted Shaw.

He highlighted gun midfielder Ben Cunnington's game-turning second quarter – when the tough veteran won six of his eight clearances – Todd Goldstein's effort in the ruck, and captain Jack Ziebell going into the centre.

There was also praise for Coleman Medal contender Ben Brown, who kicked four goals opposed to Hawk James Frawley.

"(Brown's) year's been super," Shaw said.

"He's been battling against double teams and he's been getting mauled and I just thought he competed again and his reaction time at ground level, when the ball hit the deck, was super.

"That's why he's one of the best in the competition. He stood up as well."

Shaw would not be drawn on the media-driven narrative that the Roos should contemplate offloading some of their veterans in this year's NAB AFL Trade Period.

Either way, that group illustrated their importance at present and what they can still offer in the future.

Shaw was more willing to expand on his "pretty damaging" forward line, including his "bulls" Cameron Zurhaar and Taylor Garner, who was playing his second game back from a club ban.

Another positive was Paul Ahern's second straight good performance down back after struggling for senior opportunities this year as a midfielder.

"He's been playing some good footy. He's been really solid defensively, but he's providing us with some ball use out of the backline and he's as silky as anyone, so it's really pleasing to see," Shaw said.

"That's something that's worked and I'm really pleased to see that, as a fellow half-back.

"He's battled all year in terms of opportunity and we wanted to get him into the side, because we thought he can give us something different."

North Melbourne is within one win of the top eight, depending on how results play out this weekend, but Shaw said he was looking no further than Saturday night's clash with Geelong at the Cattery.

"As I've said and I'll continue to say it, I'm worrying about the next game," he said.

"I think the next game is Geelong in Geelong, so that's enough of a headache for me to worry about."