North Melbourne players' commitment to hold their nerve after slipping four goals behind Fremantle at quarter-time was critical to the Kangaroos' mature win against the top team on Sunday, coach Brad Scott said.

He said players and coaches were full of ideas at quarter time, but they decided to stick with the plan they had heading into the game and eventually they edged their way back into the contest.

Scott said the win was built on the back of an improved ability to defend and the finishing skills of classy players such as veteran Brent Harvey, who finished with four goals, including three in the first half when the opposition had momentum.

"I'm pleased the coaches and the players were able to maintain the faith, because we could have easily thrown things around quite a bit," Scott said.

"We certainly discussed that but we were able to adjust some ball-use issues, respond to their pressure a bit better than we were in the first quarter and defend a little bit better."

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The Kangaroos outscored the Dockers 11 goals to five after quarter-time despite losing the inside 50 count 32 to 36 after the first break.

They had 18 scoring shots from those 32 entries with Harvey kicking three goals, Waite kicking two and Nahas chiming in with one goal after quarter-time.

They kicked five goals to the opposition's two in the last quarter to overrun the Dockers, kicking their final four goals from turnovers as they ran and spread better than their opposition.

Scott said the turnaround gave the team confidence as it headed into the finals, which looks virtually assured after the win.

"Any time you play the top team on the ladder and you're 24 points down at quarter-time, if you get over the line it's a win full of character," he said.

He said Harvey's 2.1 from three kicks in the second quarter was very significant considering Fremantle had dominated the first part of the quarter.

"We had to absorb that [pressure] and take our chances going forward, so those really class players, which Harvey is one, they don't need a lot of opportunity to hit the scoreboard," Scott said.

Although it was the Kangaroos' seventh win in succession Scott said they could still improve significantly.

"I think there are elements of our game that have improved. We have now come up against a really good opponent and prevailed and that gives us some confidence and self belief particularly in our run," Scott said.