Essendon continues to gather momentum in its quest for a return to the finals, eventually shaking off an undermanned North Melbourne to win a high-scoring shootout by 27 points at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers were well below their best for much of the afternoon before posting a third successive win in a season for the first time in three years to keep themselves in the mix for a top-eight berth, triumphing 20.12 (132) to 16.9 (105) in front of a crowd of 40,359.
There were 13 lead changes before key forward Cale Hooker exploded with four goals in the final term as the Dons made up for a sluggish start with a strong finish.
Hooker, who bagged an equal career-high five goals, was one of a handful of dangerous forwards of all shapes and sizes at either end.
Diminutive teammates Orazio Fantasia (four goals) and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (three) posed most problems in the first three quarters, while at the other end Jarrad Waite (four) was terrific on his return from a calf injury and Ben Brown (also an equal personal-best effort of six goals) handed Michael Hurley one of his few beatings this year to join the Coleman Medal leaders, Swans superstar Lance Franklin and Bomber Joe Daniher, with 47 goals for the year.
The inexperienced Kangaroos were admirable in defeat, but the result condemned them to a seventh successive loss in a season for the first time since 1984.
The Roos – already missing several experienced players including banged-up skipper Jack Ziebell, who was rested, and omitted ruckman Todd Goldstein – took another serious hit pre-game when star defender Robbie Tarrant was withdrawn after suffering a back injury during the warm-up.
In Tarrant's absence, Scott Thompson did an admirable job on the in-form Daniher, restricting the big Bomber to just 2.1.
An upset loss would have dealt a savage blow to the Bombers' finals hopes, and it looked possible for much of the afternoon.
This was completely unexpected given North boasted seven players with fewer than 10 games experience, including two more debutants (10 for the season) in key forward Nick Larkey and runner Josh Williams, the latter scoring the opening goal of the game with his first kick after just three minutes.
Essendon's kicking skills were off early and North rattled on three of the first four goals to lead by 15 points midway through the first term.
The Roos should have led by more than two points at half-time, considering they were dominating the inside 50s (35-23), uncontested marks (62-17), disposals (214-178) and uncontested possession (134-107).
Essendon came out harder after half-time and snared three quick goals to lead by 15 points midway through the third quarter before North responded with three in three minutes to reduce the margin to a point.
The Bombers then piled on eight of the next nine goals to lead by as much as 34 points to cruise to victory.
Essendon's saving grace for much of the contest was its ascendancy around stoppages, and that's where returning veteran Jobe Watson (27 possessions and seven clearances) played a key role, while Zach Merrett (a game-high 33 touches and nine clearances) and Dyson Heppell (26 disposals, seven clearances and two goals) were typically prolific.
North runners Trent Dumont (28 and a goal), Sam Gibson (28 and a goal), acting captain Shaun Higgins and (23) and Luke McDonald (22) were also prominent in a brave North Melbourne performance.
Goldstein's omission cleared the way for Majak Daw to lead North's ruck division and the athletic big man had a good duel with Tom Bellchambers, both amassing 34 hit-outs and providing some telling tap work.
ESSENDON 4.2 8.3 13.8 20.12 (132)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 8.5 12.7 16.9 (105)
GOALS
Essendon: Hooker 5, Fantasia 4, McDonald-Tipungwuti 3, Stewart 2, Daniher 2, Heppell 2, Parish, Zaharakis
North Melbourne: Brown 6, Waite 4, Williams, Garner, Mullet, Gibson, Dumont, Swallow
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Watson, Hooker, Heppell, Fantasia, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Goddard
North Melbourne: Higgins, Garner, Dumont, McDonald, Brown, Waite
INJURIES
Essendon: Martin Gleeson (left elbow)
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant (back) replaced in selected side by Josh Williams
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Fleer, Pannell
Official crowd: 40,359 at Etihad Stadium
