North Melbourne's last-ditch attempt to pinch victory wasn't enough to get over the line, going down to Hawthorn by four points on Sunday evening.

The Hawks dominated proceedings for most of the night and were 31 points clear midway through the final term, only for the Kangaroos to come alive. 

Rhyce Shaw's men hadn't scored in the second half until then but, as with two brief patches in the first half, they made it count on the scoreboard when they had the momentum. 

North Melbourne would have pulled off an improbable comeback if Jy Simpkin's close-range snap hadn't curled just inside the left goalpost in the final 30 seconds.

That would have been the Roos' fifth consecutive goal, after Tristan Xerri, Ben Brown – who had only three touches opposed to Ben McEvoy – Cam Zurhaar and Tarryn Thomas all kicked truly in a hurry. 

RELATED: Match photos

Instead, Hawthorn was able to clear the ball after Simpkin's near miss to move to a 3-1 record on the season. 

Chad Wingard (three goals for the second straight week among 18 disposals) continues to blossom in his second season in brown and gold, while Tom Mitchell was typically sharp in the clinches. 

Wingard did a bit of everything – even almost setting up a second quarter goal with a smother – and capped his stellar night by leaving Thomas in his wake on his way to slotting a third goal.

The game looked over at that stage.

Just as pivotal was ex-ruckman-turned-key defender McEvoy's nullifying role – with help from James Sicily – on North spearhead Ben Brown, who had one possession at three-quarter time.

Shaun Higgins was outstanding for the Kangaroos with a game-high 30 disposals, while Todd Goldstein won his ruck battle with Jon Ceglar and Robbie Tarrant stood up again in defence.  

HAWTHORN                 2.3       5.6       7.6       8.10 (58)
NORTH MELBOURNE    2.1       4.3       4.3       8.6 (54) 

GOALS
Hawthorn: Wingard 3, Breust, O'Brien, Burgoyne, Lewis, Shiels
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Hall, Taylor, Anderson, Xerri, Brown, Zurhaar, Thomas

BEST
Hawthorn: Wingard, Mitchell, McEvoy, Shiels, Sicily, Worpel
North Melbourne: Higgins, Goldstein, Tarrant, Anderson, Polec 

INJURIES
Hawthorn: Patton (foot) replaced in selected side by Lewis
North Melbourne: Cunnington (back) replaced in selected side by Ahern, Ziebell (left hamstring)