A dominant display by North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein has propelled the Kangaroos to a vital 25-point victory over Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
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Goldstein continued his outstanding year with a season-high 27 possessions, eight marks and 55 hit-outs, while Ben Brown chimed in with four goals as North ran out 14.9 (93) to 9.14 (68) winners to improve its record to 8-7.
The result puts the Roos level on wins with Collingwood (seventh on the ladder) and Greater Western Sydney (eighth).
Essendon coach James Hird has stated his preference to play just one ruckman, and chose to stick with 196cm part-timer Shaun McKernan in a bid to combat Goldstein's influence at Etihad Stadium, a decision that backfired badly.
Goldstein, the leading candidate as All Australian ruckman, was well supported by some familiar faces in the Roos' workmanlike win over the youthful Essendon line-up, which fell to 5-10 for the season.
On the cusp of his 400th game, Brent Harvey bounced back from being the starting substitute last week to gather 34 disposals, captain Andrew Swallow was dogged around the ball, and Jack Ziebell was dangerous in attack (three goals, 23 touches).
Brown reprised his match-winning effort against the Bombers in last year's elimination final to help cover the loss of suspended veteran Drew Petrie.
It was just the second time this year North has secured back-to-back wins, and the Roos will know there is plenty of work left to do before they recapture their best form.
"In terms of highlight reels and games we'll all go back and look at, we didn't rate it that highly," coach Brad Scott said.
"But I thought the opposition put up a really good fight. I thought their endeavour in the contest was really good. They made it hard for us to score and we played into their hands a little bit early.
"I thought our effort in the contest was pretty good too. It made it a pretty dour affair to half-time until we were able to break it open a little bit.
"We had a really big emphasis this week on following up last week's performance, and we did that."
The Roos can make a charge into the finals in the next month, with games against the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Melbourne and St Kilda, all anchored in the bottom six spots on the ladder.
After snapping a five-game losing streak last week against Melbourne with 12 players who had played 40 games or fewer, Essendon again went with youth against the Roos. And there were encouraging signs.
Second-gamer and top-20 draft pick Jayden Laverde showed nice signs with composed ball use, and kicked the first goal of his career before being subbed out of the game.
Shaun Edwards ran quickly, darted around packs, jumped over them and made something from nothing around goal.
Zach Merrett was again busy through the midfield, while Joe Daniher's presence continues to grow.
But the exuberance ran out and North's experience won out, despite North's sluggish start.
Essendon had control of the first term but took 25 minutes to put it on the scoreboard, when Paddy Ambrose converted a smart pass from David Zaharakis.
North held a five-point lead at the first change, but Essendon then kicked four of the next five goals of the second term to open up a 14-point break on the Roos, who lacked urgency and intensity.
Petrie's absence was looking costly. Michael Hurley had Jarrad Waite's measure, Aaron Black looked way off in the second game of the season and much was left to Brown, who offered lead after lead and leapt at the ball.
A melee on the half-time siren, sparked by Garner and Michael Hibberd, didn't immediately lift the Roos from their lethargy in the third term, but the wheel slowly turned their way.
They kicked five goals to one in the term, and established a 15-point gap by the final change. The damage was done.
The Roos jogged to the finish line, but for them, the most important thing was making it across first.
RELATED: Match photo gallery
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.4 5.5 10.7 14.9 (93)
ESSENDON 1.5 6.7 7.10 9.14 (68)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 4, Ziebell 3, Turner 2, Bastinac 2, Black, Goldstein, Waite
Essendon: Daniher 2, Howlett 2, Ambrose, Hooker, Edwards, Laverde, Hurley
BEST
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Brown, Ziebell, Harvey, Bastinac, Cunnington
Essendon: Hurley, Goddard, Stanton, Daniher, Z. Merrett, Hooker
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Mullett (hamstring), Macmillan (hamstring)
Essendon: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Aaron Mullett replaced by Sam Gibson at half time
Essendon: Jayden Laverde replaced by Kyle Langford in the third quarter
Reports: Taylor Garner (North Melbourne)
Umpires: Foot, Margetts, Meredith
Official crowd: 31,025 at Etihad Stadium
