Hawthorn has weathered the Kangaroos' fierce aggression to clinch a nine-point thriller on Friday night.
After catching Jamie Macmillan holding the ball with 36 seconds left, Paul Puopolo kicked the match-winner for the reigning premiers.
Despite dominating large swathes of the match, the Roos were left lamenting an inaccurate night in front of goal, going down 14.9 (93) to 11.18 (84) at Etihad Stadium.
Undermanned but refusing to use that as an excuse, North threw everything at the contest, coming out clearly intent on responding to last season's humiliating 60-point belting from Hawthorn.
Spotfires flared across the ground during the first half, with every disposal hard-earned under intense physical pressure.
The Roos clearly hadn't forgotten brutal hits unleashed by Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis in round five last season, with a push and shove breaking out in the Hawks' forward line before the first bounce.
It didn't take long for tempers to reach boiling point.
Leading the Roos for the first time in Andrew Swallow's absence, Jack Ziebell laid a heavy bump on Sam Mitchell, sparking a melee as the Hawks charged forward and drew first blood through Isaac Smith.
Ziebell was in everything early, leading the way with his aggression and driving home a team-lifting 50m bomb as North dominated the opening exchanges.
The Roos should've led by more than 15 points at the first change after repeated 50m entries (20-8) and extreme pressure shook Hawthorn's experienced backline.
Although North held a slender two-point lead heading into the rooms at half-time, the Hawks were starting to gain the ascendancy.
A five-goal-to-three third term gave Alastair Clarkson's men a handy seven-point buffer at the final break and they held on.
Jordan Lewis (31 disposals, one goal) was superb in the heat of battle, while Sam Mitchell (27) overcame Trent Dumont's attention and Taylor Duryea put the clamps on Brent Harvey (13, one goal).
Hawthorn's leading goalkicker Jack Gunston went goalless and was blanketed brilliantly by All Australian chance Robbie Tarrant, but James Sicily stepped up when it counted, booting five goals.
Daniel Wells continued his resurgence for the Roos, finishing with 30 touches and nine clearances, while Lindsay Thomas and Drew Petrie booted three goals each – including one each in the frantic final term, but it wasn't enough for the Roos to avoid a bitter loss.
Luke McDonald left the game early after pulling up sore from an inspiring chase on Cyril Rioli.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.5 4.11 7.15 11.18 (84)
HAWTHORN 1.2 5.3 10.4 14.9 (93)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Petrie 3, Wood 2, Brown, Harvey, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily 5, Rioli 2, Hartung 2, O'Brien, Breust, Smith, Lewis, Puopolo
BEST
North Melbourne: Wells, Tarrant, Dal Santo, Wood, Atley, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily, Mitchell, Duryea, Lewis, Rioli, Birchall
INJURIES
North Melbourne: McDonald (hamstring), Wells (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Ryan, Fleer
Official crowd: 37, 073 at Etihad Stadium
