One of the club’s finest wins of the seasonwas met with positive analysis around media circles.

While an incident between Drew Petrie and Brian Lake proved the main talking point out of the night, a stirring effort against the reigning premiers didn’t go unnoticed.

A six-goal third quarter run came in for special praise.

Matt Windley, Herald Sun
“At the 10-minute mark of Friday night’s third quarter North Melbourne fans had seen a response from their players.But some 14 minutes later they had witnessed a statement.

“This was old school footy won by an old school club.”

Len Johnson – The Age
“This win was very good, marked by the sort of fierceness that coach Brad Scott had identified as lacking in last week’s loss to the Brisbane Lions.”

Courtney Walsh – The Australian
“A week after falling to the lowly Lions in Brisbane, an inspired third term proved decisive as the Kangaroos shored up a spot in the eight.”

Enjoying the finest season of his career, Levi Greenwood is starting to receive the recognition he deserves. 

Mark Robinson – Herald Sun
“Played five and six games respectively in 2012 and 2013 and 14 of 15 games this season, nine of which have returned 27-plus possessions.

“Against the Hawks, it was 27, seven tackles, eight clearances, two goals and a game-high six inside 50s.

“Despite the hoo-ha about Dermott Brereton’s column and the responses by Boomer Harvey and Nick Dal Santo, which earned them votes from the media, I thought Greenwood was best afield. He is another story of resilience.”

Petrie’s five-goal haul also earning him praise.

Matt Windley – Herald Sun
“In a year in which he is supposed to be playing below his best and against a club which he traditionally struggled, Petrie, one of the AFL’s good guys, turned back the clock at Etihad Stadium.”

For some though, the victory raised more questions than answers.

Courtney Walsh – The Australian
“An indication of the Kangaroos’ inconsistency this season is that they are unbeaten against the top four sides yet have failed to beat a team positioned between fifth and tenth.”

Nathan Schmook – AFL.com.au
“Does their record against the ladder leaders give them premiership credentials? Or does their tendency to trip up against the competition's battlers rule them out? They were the questions to emerge on Friday night. One thing we can say for certain is that Brad Scott's outfit is one of the most intriguing in the AFL.”