NORTH Melbourne has fallen to a 38-point defeat at the hands of West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday evening.

The game begun as an arm-wrestle but five goals in the second term, and seven in the third, was enough for the Eagles to ride North's last-quarter comeback to win, 17.8 (110) to 10.12 (72).

Petrie (six inside-50s and a goal) and Brent Harvey (31 possessions) led the way for the Roos, while youngster Liam Anthony (29) continued his superb debut season.

Nathan Grima did a job on in-form Eagle Josh Kennedy, while Leigh Adams booted three goals.

But a little like Perth's weather, in which all four seasons were represented on a squally day, North showed all aspects of its game.

Unfortunately, the best was saved for too late with the Kangaroos four-goal final term not enough to wipe out the 40-point deficit of three-quarter time.

Drew Petrie finished off an excellent movement that started from the backline to begin the fourth-quarter run, and soon Andrew Swallow and Adams, twice, added their names to the scoresheet to cut West Coast's lead to 20 points.

But with the home team visibly tiring, Michael Firrito gave away a 50m penalty to gift a goal to Matt Priddis and West Coast had seen off a spirited challenge.

The damage, of course, had already been done during the third quarter. It began with North trailing by 10 points and the Eagles down to 20 fit men due to injuries to Chris Masten and Mitch Brown.

But if the Roos though they could take advantage of the personnel issues to quickly overcome the deficit, David Wirrpanda – with a classy snap to open the third term – had other news.

Lachie Hansen goaled well from a tight angle for North's quick reply, but Nick Naitanui got going in the ruck and the Eagles surged.

The young tall gave another glimpse of his prodigious talent, dominating the centre square bounces to set up a wave of clearances for the home team.

The goals followed, with West Coast kicking four quickly before North Melbourne's temper grew short enough to instigate a bout of push and shove after Adam Selwood's clever grubber.

The donnybrook halted the Eagles' momentum as Hamish McIntosh broke the streak of goals, but the respite was temporary.

West Coast went on to kick seven for the term, putting the result almost beyond doubt with a 40-point advantage at three-quarter time.

Earlier, North Melbourne had made a good fist of the first quarter, tightening the contest up enough to allow West Coast just one goal for the term.

The problem for the Kangaroos, however, was at the other end, where they managed just one for themselves.

When the game opened up in the second quarter, the Eagles looked the more likely team, kicking five goals to three to gain a slight ascendancy.

Still, North's late goals, plus the injuries to Masten and Brown, had the visitors right in the game at the major break.

But the Eagles late-season revival continued in the second half as they ran out comfortable winners.

West Coast        1.2  6.3  13.7  17.8 (110)
North Melbourne     1.4  4.5  6.9  10.12 (72)

GOALS
West Coast: Wirrpanda, McKinley, Wilson 3, Kennedy, LeCras, Priddis 2, Embley, A Selwood
North Melbourne: Adams 3, Campbell, Goldstein, Hansen, Jones, McIntosh, Petrie, Swallow

BEST
West Coast: A Selwood, Houlihan, Priddis, Wirrpanda, Lynch, Naitanui, Swift 
North Melbourne: Harvey, Petrie, Anthony, Adams, Grima, Rawlings

INJURIES
West Coast: Brown (foot), Masten (knee)
North Melbourne: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Hendrie, Keating

Official crowd: 32,472 at Subiaco Oval

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.