It was North Melbourne's emphatic Good Friday win over St Kilda in round two that kick-started its 2018 season, so it seemed fitting it was up to the Roos to finish off the year with a win over the Saints.
This season-ending clash wasn't as bad for the Saints nor as dominant for the Roos, but the same result ensued, as North Melbourne cruised to a 23-point win.
With North's finals chances gone, most interest lay with Ben Brown's hunt for the Coleman Medal but the Kangaroos star was unable to track down Jack Riewoldt.
Brown, who started the game on 58 goals (seven behind the Richmond premiership hero), kicked 3.2, with all his majors coming in the first half of his side's 17.15 (117) to 14.10 (94) win.
North was a level above throughout the contest, laying the groundwork for the win with a dominant first quarter before taking the foot off in the second half.
Trent Dumont played perhaps the best game of his career, finding 38 disposals through the midfield, while Sam Wright (29 disposals), Ryan Clarke (28) and Shaun Higgins (29) were also busy.
Todd Goldstein was excellent in the ruck as he collected 20 disposals, 27 hit-outs and floated forward to kick two goals, while Jarrad Waite, in the final game of his career after announcing his retirement last week, kicked three goals (and missed a fourth after the final siren when his kick rocketed into the goal post).
North coach Brad Scott admitted it was difficult for his charges to maintain the rage throughout the game.
"We tried really hard to keep the players focused on what we've been working on throughout the year but I'm a realist as well. I understand the stakes and a bit of the nostalgia as well. I was really pleased we were able to get the result in the end," he said.
The signs were ominous for the Saints from the start. Brown slotted his first goal in the opening two minutes, before Jack Ziebell came into the contest, kicking three goals for the quarter.
North's 22-point lead at the opening change was reflective of its dominance (as was its 13 scoring shots to six for the quarter) and the Saints' lack of pressure made it easy for the Roos to stream forward and set up the game.
It took nearly 10 minutes for the first goal of the second quarter, a long bomb from Saints skipper Jarryn Geary, before the Roos took control of the contest and established a 35-point lead at the main break.
Brown continued to be the main point of interest in an otherwise average spectacle, with the North spearhead kicking two miracle goals – one from the boundary line and another while being swung in a tackle – for the quarter to head into half-time needing four more goals to equal Riewoldt.
The Etihad Stadium crowd buzzed whenever Brown led at the ball and was drawn into the drama, with a collective groan when he missed a simple set shot early in the second quarter.
Brown's supply dried up in the third term, as St Kilda booted four of the first six goals of the quarter to get within 23 points of the Roos.
Two came to Steven, whose energy and hard running never wavered, while Steele, also enjoying one of his better games of the season, kicked truly from his shot.
When impressive developing tall forward Rowan Marshall converted his shot from the 50-metre arc deep into the third term, the Saints had closed the gap to 17 points.
But a late goal to Nathan Hrovat helped North reclaim a 23-point advantage at the final change, meaning for all of St Kilda's hard work it was only just within striking distance as it entered the final quarter of its season.
The margin remained the same at the final siren, as St Kilda's improved effort was warded off by North's superior class.
MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Mason Wood suffered a hamstring strain in the second quarter and missed the rest of the game. Luke Davies-Uniacke was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.
NEXT UP
It's season over for both sides. North defied expectations at the start of the season to challenge for the finals.
ST KILDA 3.3 6.4 11.6 14.10 (94)
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.7 11.9 14.11 17.15 (117)
GOALS
St Kilda: Steven 2, Steele 2, Membrey 2, Gilbert, Lonie, Geary, Marshall, Billings, Paton, Sinclair, Newnes
North Melbourne: Ziebell 3, Brown 3, Waite 3, Goldstein 2, Wood, Simpkin, Higgins, Daw, Dumont, Hrovat
BEST
St Kilda: Steven, Steele, Carlisle, Ross, Webster, Austin
North Melbourne: Dumont, Cunnington, Ziebell, Higgins, Goldstein, Wright
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke (hamstring) replaced in selection side by Ahern, Wood (left hamstring)
Reports: Scott Thompson reported for striking Jack Steele in the first quarter
Umpires: Deboy, Whetton, McInerney
Official crowd: 19,866 at Etihad Stadium
