North Melbourne’s push for more prime-time matches has drawn further momentum, with Friday night’s clash against West Coast among the highest-viewed games in 2013.

Almost 1.3 million people tuned into the game on free-to-air and pay TV, the fourth-highest audience for any AFL match so far this year.

Only the Round 7 clash between Geelong and Essendon, the Round 3 Fremantle-Essendon clash, and the Anzac Day blockbuster have pulled more viewers.

The Kangaroos are scheduled two further Friday night fixtures, against Carlton and Geelong later in the year.

Highest TV audiences 2013
Round 5 – Essendon v Collingwood – 1,662,059
Round 7 – Geelong v Essendon – 1,580,275
Round 3 – Fremantle v Essendon – 1,336,315
Round 8 – West Coast v North Melbourne – 1,282,547
Round 6 – Collingwood v St Kilda – 1,273,949
Round 4 – Sydney v Geelong – 1,270,799