With North Melbourne scheduled for a bye this week, NMFC.com.au looks back at the season so far.
Keep an eye out in the days to come for more round-by-round reports.
RELATED: Rounds 1 & 2 | Rounds 3 & 4
Round 5
Match photos | Video: Match highlights | Post-match: Round 5
After conceding the first two goals of the game in enemy territory at Domain Stadium, North hit back hard against the Dockers.
Ben Cunnington was finding plenty of the ball as North kicked seven in a row between the midway point of the first and third quarters.
The highlight of the stretch was Taylor Garner’s amazing mark over the top of Garrick Ibbotson.
Taylor Garner might have just taken MOTY, what are your thoughts? @NMFC #AFLFreoNorth pic.twitter.com/fuQIiVSFon
— AFL on 7 (@7AFL) April 22, 2017
North’s pressure around the ball was intense, and the lead stretched to 29 points after Trent Dumont’s goal at the nine-minute mark of the premiership term.
But Fremantle hit back.
With Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell and Ben Brown all sore, the Dockers closed the margin to 15 by the final change.
When Brady Grey kicked a goal at the 12-minute mark, the margin was a point. Nathan Hrovat hit back soon after with a classy snap, and North held firm until very late in the game.
Marley Williams looked to be the hero with just minutes remaining.
This was one of the tackles of the season from Marley Williams #NMFC pic.twitter.com/lcxsEggjhA
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) April 23, 2017
It wasn’t to be though; a minute later Michael Johnson kicked a goal for the Dockers, and as the seconds ticked down, Shane Kersten snapped the match-winner for the home team.
The Roos were left heartbroken.
FREMANTLE 2.3 2.6 4.10 9.13 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.3 6.5 7.7 9.8 (62)
GOALS
Fremantle: Langdon 2, McCarthy, Logue, Crozier, B. Hill, Grey, Johnson, Kersten
North Melbourne: Turner, Wood, Cunnington, Simpkin, Atley, Goldstein, Dumont, Brown, Hrovat
BEST
Fremantle: Mundy, Johnson, Fyfe, Sandilands, S. Hill, Hamling, Grey
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Williams, Dumont, Macmillan, Tarrant
INJURIES
Fremantle: S. Hill (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Goldstein (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, McInerney, Mollison
Official crowd: 33,319
Round 6
Match photos | Video: Match highlights | Post-match: Round 6
After five losses in a row, North was desperate to get its season back on track against the Suns.
The Roos were outplayed early at home and trailed by two goals until late in the first term, when Sam Gibson reduced the margin to six.
Ben Brown was up and about early, booting two first quarter goals which set the tone for a big day for the number 50.
Gold Coast maintained the ascendancy in the second term, but North hit back again, Ben Brown’s third goal on the stroke of half-time sent his team in with a slender two-point lead.
While the Suns continued to fight, it was Marley Williams who again swung the momentum his team’s way with another huge tackle.
Another week, another brilliant Marley Williams chase #aflnorthsuns pic.twitter.com/QyHTKzKrVC
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) April 29, 2017
The Roos went in to the final change with a seven-point lead, with Ben Brown’s fourth, fifth and six goals in a ten-minute period putting the game beyond doubt … or so it seemed.
Gary Ablett and Jack Bowes both booted late goals to keep the Suns in the hunt, but North went on to record a 13-point victory.
Shaun Higgins finished with 28 touches, while Nathan Hrovat (22 disposals) and Taylor Garner (23 possessions, 11 marks) were influential.
So. Much. Gatorade. #aflnorthsuns pic.twitter.com/EPUJzIFl7L
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) April 29, 2017
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.4 7.8 12.9 16.11 (107)
GOLD COAST 4.4 7.6 11.8 14.10 (94)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 6, Hrovat 2, Gibson, Turner, Higgins, Simpkin, Williams, Hansen, Anderson, McDonald
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Wright 2, Matera 2, Barlow 2, Ah Chee 2, Sexton, Ablett, Bowes
BEST
North Melbourne: Brown, Higgins, Ziebell, Garner, Tarrant, Mullett
Gold Coast: Ablett, Sexton, Lynch, Miller
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Gold Coast: Kade Kolodjashnij (illness) replaced in the selected side by Matt Shaw, Matt Rosa (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Williamson, Pannell
Official crowd: 15,431 at Etihad Stadium