North Melbourne’s scoring has been the prime reason behind its 4-0 start; the club’s best in more than a decade.

It’s been the heaviest scoring four-week stretch for the club in nearly three years. To find a month where North had scored more than its current tally of 492, you have to go back to Rounds 7-10, 2013.

North currently sits top of the table in points scored - no surprise when you consider seven players are averaging more than a goal a game.

The Roos have been led by Jarrad Waite with 16 goals - the most he’s ever scored in a four-week period, backing up the argument he’s playing career-best football.

The leaders

Jack Ziebell has had a consistent start to the season, winning the contested ball repeatedly when it mattered.

Of his 26 disposals against the Dockers, 13 were contested. It was a team-high and it marked the fourth consecutive game he’s had at least 12 in the area.

Sam Gibson, playing his 89th consecutive game, was again influential. The midfielder has made a habit of hitting the scoreboard early in the year and it continued on Sunday. Three important goals capped off his 26-disposal game.

Still fresh from signing a long-term deal, Jamie Macmillan was the third Roo to collect 26 disposals. With 20 of them uncontested, the 24-year-old was relied upon to provide drive through the middle and duly delivered.

The area for improvement

For the second week in a row, North was outpointed at scoring from clearances. It was a key plank to Melbourne’s comeback in Round 3 and Fremantle was able to take advantage again in the third term.

However, it unfurled in a different way to Blundstone Arena. On that day it was Max Gawn who had the edge in hit-outs, enabling his midfielders to get first use.

Todd Goldstein responded on Sunday, but the issue was at ground level through the first three quarters. North had a 31-14 hit-out edge, but was narrowly losing the clearance battle. From there, the Dockers were able to hit the scoreboard with much more regularity.

The visitors had a four goal advantage from clearances at three quarter time. But in the last quarter Goldstein’s ruck dominance finally paid dividends. North kicked three goals to zero from stoppages.

The turning point

North had just kicked the first goal of the last quarter and was looking to put a significant break on Fremantle.

However, it was the Dockers who swiftly countered and looked absolutely certain to have a quick reply on the scoreboard. Matthew Pavlich was streaming into an open goal, and then…

With the resulting point, the Roos’ lead was 13. But the momentum derived from Tarrant’s herculean effort was immediately visible for all to see.

The next 10 minutes were game-breaking. North piled on four goals to no score, dominating every single aspect of the game.

At the end of the flurry, fittingly capped off by Waite’s fourth major, the lead was 38 points and the match was over.