Jarrad Waite's four goals powered North Melbourne to a grinding victory over the Western Bulldogs, but it’s his less-heralded defensive efforts that are catching the eyes of his teammates, Shaun Higgins says.

Waite was the difference in an arm-wrestle at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, kicking two crucial second-half goals to help turn the tide the Kangaroos' way in the lowest-scoring game of the season so far.

But the 33-year-old's willingness to chase and lay four tackles were some of the unseen efforts which helped the Roos shut down the Dogs' attacking forays from half-back.

The Kangas have been the AFL's best pressure side in their attacking 50m this season, climbing from ninth last year, with Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie and Waite setting the example.

"Waitey's in unbelievable form at the moment and defending really well as well," Higgins told AFL.com.au.

"The pressure he applies is as good as anyone, so that's what he bases his game on and now he's kicking goals, so he's had a good start to the year."

An enigmatic figure during his 12 years at Carlton, Waite has been revitalised by his free agency shift to the Roos two years ago and currently shares the Coleman Medal lead with 22 majors.

The 194cm forward has always possessed some of the cleanest hands in the competition, and Higgins said the certainty that Waite, Petrie or Ben Brown will either take marks of create spillage for the small men is making the Roos a dangerous outfit.

"(Waite's) a nice target to have up there," he said. "Combine that with Drewy and Browny as well and we're confident to get it inside 50."

While many expected another shootout under the roof on Friday night, the Roos instead prepared for a lockdown clash and prevailed despite kicking only half of their League- best season average of 122 points a game.

"We were confident we could win like that, because we know we play a finals-type brand of footy," Higgins said.

"We don't go out every week to kick 20 goals, but if teams allow us to do that, we'll do it.

"If teams want to defend the way the Bulldogs did tonight, then we'll turn it into a finals game and make it an arm-wrestle the whole night.

"We enjoy that."

Higgins said the Roos' "hardened AFL bodies" saw his teammates will themselves over the line against the Dogs, despite being a man down on the bench and coming off back-to-back six-day breaks with some players cramping, including star Daniel Wells.

North now has an eight-day rest before facing St Kilda back at Etihad Stadium, and the Roos – who have started 6-0 for the first time since 1979 - could jump to a 9-0 start with seemingly straight-forward matches against lowly Essendon and Carlton to come.