With precision and excellent decision making, North scored from 70 per cent of its forward 50 entries in the first quarter to lead by 26-points at quarter time.
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Brad Scott was pleased with the improvement following the game.
"We really made Geelong defend. They didn't have an intercept mark in the first quarter which would be the first time that's happened to them in a long time.
"We were able to give our key forwards much more of a chance so our decision making and execution going forward was much improved."
John Longmire and Sydney, North's opponents on Saturday, were also impressed.
"Their first half was probably the best football I've seen them play for a long time," Longmire said.
"They also showed an ability to adjust their game style and go a little bit slower with much more precision.
"Their forward 50 efficiency in the first half was off the scale."
North's impressive ball use was on show early in the game.
The Play
Andrew Swallow earns a free kick on the wing and attempts a short pass to Leigh Adams.
The ball drops just short, meaning Adams doesn't have the luxury of going back and assessing his options. A similar sort of situation against Collingwood could have led to a blind long bomb inside 50. Instead Adams is composed enough to go back to the captain and reset the play.
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After Scott Thompson receives the pass from Swallow, he has a long option in Drew Petrie. However with loose Geelong defenders around Petrie, a kick to the key forward would have most likely resulted in a turnover.
Instead, Thompson lowers his eyes and hits up Daniel Wells.
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With the near side of the ground not providing any joy, Wells looks through the middle and sees an opportunity to switch the play.
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It opens up the forward 50 as Geelong scrambles to get its defensive zone back into place. The ball eventually finds its way to Nathan Grima about 70 metres out from goal.
Now the Cats have found their structures once more, with loose men filling the holes. The work of Jamie Macmillan and Leigh Adams frees space for the key forwards.
Macmillan leads towards the ball, dragging his opponent away from the hot spot. Meanwhile Adams stays just far enough away from Robbie Tarrant and Lachlan Hansen to stop his opponent flying to spoil, while still being in a good enough position for a potential crumb.
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Now with one-on-one matchups deep in the 50, Grima sits his kick on top of Harry Taylor's head, giving Tarrant the sit while also negating any chance for Taylor to get a run at a spoil.
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Tarrant goes back and makes no mistake with the resulting set shot to give North an early break in the game.
Against a Sydney side which is quick to cut off forward 50 entries, the same level of precision will have to be on show once more, for four quarters.
