After a slow build of growth and improvement across the board in 2021, North Melbourne has finally delivered the type of all-around, dominant performance that has been threatening for weeks.

A tight and contested first half saw Carlton ender the main break two points ahead, but a third quarter blitz saw North gain an unassailable lead and put the result beyond doubt.

Kicking seven goals to Carlton’s zero in the third term, all aspects of the game plan seemed to come together in the second half as the Roos offered a glimpse into their bright future.

With North now moving level on premiership points with Hawthorn, David Noble says his side is keen to mount a late surge up the ladder.

“I don’t need a carat not to win the wooden spoon, I’m pretty motivated and I think out players are [too],” Noble said.

“There’s no doubt it took us a little while to get going but it was a whole new game plan for us … [and] we couldn’t get our best team together until the back half of the year.

“I think now we step into each game for the remaining part of the year with really strong belief of what we can actually do and deliver based on the wins we’ve had since the bye.”

North’s lethal approach on the counter-attack was a hallmark of the contest, making Carlton pay for sloppy ball use time and time again.

The Roos scored 84 points off of turnovers against the Blues, their highest total since Round 17, 2017, and a huge improvement on the season average of 40.5 points per game.

Noble says the ability to score from turnovers shows the level of chemistry the team is building.

“It’s a good indication that your team’s working really well together and it’s really connected from your backs, through your mids to your forwards,” he said.

“I felt in the second half in particular we didn’t have guys who were chasing the ball, I think they played their roles really well.

“When they do that we’re certainly stronger with that component … and that brings level of predictability with it, the guys further up the ground know what’s going to happen with the ball.

“That was probably our best [performance] in that element of the game for the year.”

While opting to play exciting, corridor centred football in the first half, North chose to take a more composed approach in the second half, looking happier to keep the ball and wait for the safe option to move the ball forward.

With 66 disposals, 59 uncontested possessions and 17 more marks than Carlton across the course of the game, the Roos were willing to hold possession and slow the game down when required.

Noble says Carlton’s high-pressure levels in the first half brought about the game-defining change of pace.

“Credit goes to the Blues, there was lots of pressure around the ball. They were trying to restrict us getting into the corridor,” he said.

“We were probably pretty bullish in trying to keep coming in through that area. We’ll continue to encourage our players to use that method.

“Sometimes we’ve got to take a little bit more time for things to unfold and I thought out composure in the second half was a lot better in the use of the ball.”