A six-goal haul from Aaron Edwards and a stellar performance from Daniel Wells have inspired North Melbourne to a 41-point victory over an undermanned Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
At one stage in the opening term the Kangaroos trailed six goals-to-one but they rebounded strongly to get up 19.10 (124) to 12.11 (83).
The win extended North's winning run over the Demons to nine matches.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott's description of Wells as potentially 'the best player we've ever seen' proved self-fulfilling seven days after it was proffered.
Wells was best-afield by miles with 29 disposals, eight marks, seven clearances, six tackles, and three goals.
Coming off a bag of 10 in the VFL last week, Edwards scored his goals through the crucial middle stages of Saturday's contest when the result was still up for grabs.
Todd Goldstein and Stefan Martin - who had huge boots to fill as the replacement for the injured Mark Jamar - enjoyed their battle in the ruck with the better-equipped Goldstein taking the honours, but only just.
Missing Jamar, Jack Grimes and the suspended Jack Trengove, the Demons were a shadow of the side that thumped the Crows by 96 points last Sunday.
Still, they generated a healthy return of seven goals - including two apiece from Michael Newton and Liam Jurrah - from 15 inside-50s to dominate the opening term.
Melbourne led by 32 points at the 23-minute mark and would have been disappointed to concede two late goals to Wells and Todd Goldstein.
The quarter was an eventful one for Daniel Pratt who, while scrambling on all-fours, was collected high by Lynden Dunn whose knees-first slide is certain to attract attention from the match review panel.
Later in the term the victim turned villain when Pratt landed a quickfire half-jab, half-slap with a closed hand to the side of Newton's head.
The blow, which collected Newton flush, was an instinctive reaction to a heavy bump from the Demon that's almost certain to earn the volatile Pratt a week's holiday.
North picked up in the second term where they left off the first.
Wells had a picnic with 11 touches and his hard work and creativity in the midfield was capped off nearer to goal by Edwards who converted thrice to narrow the gap at half-time to just seven points.
The Kangaroos were late returning to the field after the break but quick to respond to their coach's half-time address.
They slammed through four unanswered goals in the opening eight minutes of the third quarter including Edwards' fourth and fifth to wrest the lead for the first time.
Melbourne's cause wasn’t helped when, moments after Colin Garland - who turned his left ankle early in the contest - was subbed, Rohan Bail injured his left knee which cut the Demons' bench to two.
With all the momentum and numbers on their side, North cruised to the final change with a 21-point buffer assisted by a couple of goals to Lachie Hansen, both from strong contested grabs.
Once Brent Harvey and Goldstein bagged the opening two goals of the final term, the 'Roos second win for the season was safe.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 3.2, 7.5, 14.7,19.10 (124)
MELBOURNE: 7.2, 8.6, 10.10, 12.11 (83)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Edwards 6, Harvey 3, Wells 3, Hansen 2, Goldstein 2, Adams, Harper, Speight
Melbourne: Jurrah 3, Maric 3, Newton 2, Petterd 2, Watts, Bartram
BEST: North Melbourne: Wells, Edwards, Goldstein, Harvey, Swallow, Ziebell
Melbourne: Sylvia, Martin, Davey, Jones, Jurrah
INJURIES: North Melbourne: Nil
Melbourne: Garland (ankle), Bail (knee)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Ben Cunnington (illness) replaced in North Melbourne's selected side by Cruize Garlett
UMPIRES: Bowen, Donlon, Wenn
CROWD: 20,000 approx. at Etihad Stadium