After Essendon looked to be cruising to victory in the last quarter leading by 25 points, the Kangaroos kicked four consecutive goals to get within three points with a minute remaining.
Essendon lost possession and the ball swept forward, where McIntosh marked it on his second attempt, in the forward pocket about 40 metres from goal.
The siren rang as he went back to take the kick, but the big Kangaroo missed to the right, granting the Bombers a 14.20 (104) to 15.12 (102) win.
McIntosh immediately walked in the direction of the North rooms after the miskick, but was pulled back by teammates, all of whom had played a part in an amazing contest.
Games between these clubs in recent years have often captured football's physical essence, carrying a healthy sense of aggression, rivalry and competitiveness.
But this was a North and Essendon game reminiscent of their famous battles between 1999-2001, full of goals, skill and speed - and with the toughness still ever present.
Brent Stanton was superb, gathering 35 disposals and proving to be the most influential midfielder on the ground, while Jobe Watson (28 touches) and David Zaharakis (25) were solid contributors.
But the Bombers never had it all their way, losing tagger Heath Hocking to concussion in the first quarter. It came as 200-gamer Drew Petrie looked set to be the most dominant big man on the ground.
North's strategy to get the ball in as deep and quick as possible to Petrie was working, and although he finished the term with only one goal, he played a part in each of the Roos' three for the quarter.
But at the other end of the ground Bomber Michael Hurley was causing problems for the North defence. In the corresponding game between Essendon and North last year Hurley booted four. He looked on track for another bag.
Things turned sharply in North's favour in the second quarter. Bomber Jake Melksham snapped the first goal of the term, but the Roos responded with three of their own in a row.
For a short period everything seemed to go against the Bombers: they were penalised for an after-goal altercation (which resulted in another goal), a video review decision went North's way, and defender Kyle Hardingham left the field with a shoulder injury after colliding with a teammate.
Hardingham returned late in the quarter, and the Bombers did as well.
They began to win the midfield battle, had shut down North's key movers (Wells had only four touches for the term after 13 in the first), and started playing on their own terms. The Bombers kicked five of the last six goals and turned a 16-point deficit into a nine-point lead at the main break.
It proved to be the most pivotal or many swings of momentum in the game, and one the Roos were unable to resurrect, as close as they may have come.
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.3 8.5 10.10 15.12 (102)
ESSENDON 3.2 9.8 13.14 14.20 (104)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Harvey 3, Adams 2, Edwards, Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Harper, MacMillan, McIntosh, Wells
Essendon: Hurley 2, Lovett-Murray 2, Melksham 2, Stanton 2, Heppell, Hille, Jetta, McVeigh, Ryder, Watson
BEST
North Melbourne: Wells, Swallow, Petrie, Firrito, Adams, Harper, Thomas
Essendon: Stanton, Watson, Heppell, Myers, Hille, Hibberd, Zaharakis
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant replaced by Matt Campbell in the third quarter
Essendon: Heath Hocking replaced by Nathan Lovett-Murray in the first quarter
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Essendon: Heath Hocking (concussion), Kyle Hardingham (shoulder)
Reports: Wright reported for charging Essendon's Brent Sanderson
Umpires: Stevic, Armstrong, Bannister
Official crowd: 45,699 at Etihad Stadium
