The key match ups remained the same at the start of the second half with Michael Hartley on Ben Brown, Scott Thompson on Joe Daniher and Daniel Nielson on Cale Hooker.

In the opening ten minutes of the third term the Roos led the inside 50 count 8-2. But the Dons were able to kick goals from both entries while the Kangaroos booted one.

A crunching Jobe Watson tackle on Andrew Swallow set up a goal to Dyson Heppell, which gave the Dons a 17 points lead. But three goals in four minutes saw the Kangaroos retake the lead nearing three quarter time.

Michael Hurley was switched onto Brown after his fourth goal late in the third quarter.

The Dons kicked 5.5 to 4.2 in the third term and when Orazio Fantasia kicked his fourth goal of the game, the Bombers took a seven-point lead into the last change.

Two goals to Cale Hooker to start the last quarter opened up a 20 point lead after five minutes.

North Melbourne responded with Brown's fifth but Hooker steadied with his third of the quarter (and fourth of the game) to keep the margin at 20 points.

But the Kangaroos hit back again through Waite.

Essendon generated 12 inside 50s to three in the opening ten minutes of the last term.  Hooker's fifth of the game saw the margin extended to 22 points, before Darcy Parish got the Dons out to a match winning lead.

After a tight game throughout the first three quarters, the Bombers won the first 15 clearances of the last quarter to breakaway from the Kangaroos.