NORTH Melbourne survived a desperate West Coast fightback to record a stirring one-point win at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with Eagles spearhead Jake Waterman missing a set shot in the dying moments of a thrilling clash. 

The Kangaroos led by 20 points early in the fourth quarter but were under significant pressure late as the Eagles charged home with the final three goals, holding on to record a desperately needed win, 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73).

KANGAROOS v EAGLES Full match coverage and stats

Waterman booted 3.3 and played a massive role in the fightback before hitting the post with his final set shot from 30m in front, with opposition key forward Nick Larkey consoling the All Australian after the siren.

Larkey was outstanding for the winners, booting four goals and standing up in critical contests late as North bounced back from its 124-point flogging against Fremantle and split its sold WA 'home' games 1-1 for a second season.

The win keeps the Kangaroos in the wildcard race at 6-7 ahead of a clash with Richmond next Sunday, with Alastair Clarkson's team playing with plenty of grit and fight after a challenging week.

Both teams looked capable of taking control of the game through the first two-and-a-half quarters, with West Coast building a 17-point lead in the second term after a five-goal run, and North Melbourne responding with a six-goal burst of its own. 

As has become common with these teams, however, the match was ultimately decided late, with young Eagles forward Jobe Shanahan kicking two late goals to drive the fightback and taking a series of stunning contested marks.

Harry Sheezel was terrific for the Roos, providing plenty of drive and polish with his 32 disposals, nine inside 50s and nine clearances, while former Eagle Jack Darling played a pivotal role early with four first-half goals. 

Ruckman Tristan Xerri was a combative force in an entertaining match-up with Bailey Williams, giving North a physical presence around stoppages as they out-tackled West Coast 72-47 and won the contested ball battle 119-116.

The Eagles were best served by key duo Waterman and Shanahan, while young star Harley Reid (21 and five clearances) was influential early. Tim Kelly (27 and nine clearances) continued a terrific season, with mid-season recruit Marcus Herbert showing great signs.

Alastair Clarkson challenged his team to bring the effort and endeavour that was missing against Fremantle, with Darling stepping up early against his former team to kick the opening goal after some hard-running efforts.

His teammates followed, with the Roos working hard defensively to pin the ball in their front half but failing to capitalise as Charlie Spargo, Larkey and Cooper Trembath all missed opportunities before Larkey finally converted.

The West Coast response was driven by Reid, who was typically physical and shot through stoppages at speed to cause panic in the North Melbourne defence, eventually resulting in a goal from a high contact free kick. 

The young star had 11 disposals and five clearances for the quarter, with the Eagles taking a five-point lead into the first break after Spargo gave away an undisciplined free kick to Brady Hough.

West Coast built on its momentum in the second, with back-to-back goals for Waterman giving them a 17-point lead and five unanswered goals early in the term.

They looked ready to take over the game, but momentum shifted after Waterman had a potential third goal overturned, with North also utilising Luke Parker as a spare defender to control the red-hot Eagles' spearhead.

As Waterman cooled, his former teammate Darling heated up, kicking three consecutive goals to wrench back the lead at half-time as he got on top of smaller opponents, including Brandon Starcevich.

The Roos got out to a 20-point break in the third, with Larkey booting a pair of goals and Sheezel snapping accurately from the pocket after standing unmanned at a forward 50 stoppage.

Tom Cole gave West Coast a boost when he laid a sensational chasedown tackle and converted from his free kick, while young forward Shanahan capped a strong quarter with a contested mark and terrific set shot goal to cut the margin to 14 points at the last break.

A 20-point margin early in the fourth looked likely to be enough for the Roos, but Shanahan and the Eagles made them fight right to the end in a 'home' game win on enemy territory.

Davis left wobbly after Curtis tackle
West Coast wingman Hamish Davis took no further part in the game after his head hit the Optus Stadium turf in a crunching tackle from North Melbourne forward Paul Curtis that will draw Match Review scrutiny. It was an interesting clash that will be debated, with Curtis latching onto Davis when the young Eagle already had downward momentum in a single-action tackle. The forward had a duty of care towards Davis, however, and the young Eagles' wingman was unable to prevent his head hitting the turf after getting one arm partially free late in the tackle. It will be a testing case for the MRO, with Curtis copping a three-game ban last year for a dangerous tackle on Port Adelaide's Josh Sinn.

Roos hold up their end of the deal 
A loss on Saturday would have put the spotlight firmly on North Melbourne's lucrative deal with the Western Australian government to play two 'home' games a season in WA. Needing a cash injection after being transitioned out of Tasmania, the two WA games a season have been vital to the Roos' bottom line, and they now have a 2-2 record in those matches after also beating the Eagles in Bunbury 2025. Last round’s heavy defeat led to a "torrid" week for the club, but the players' ability to respond in front of a large West Coast crowd was significant. Last year's WA 'home' games attracted a total crowd of 44,123, while this year's pair of matches drew 55,740, with North again leaning into its WA connection. Next year is the final year of the three-year deal, which Fremantle and West Coast will be desperate for the Roos to continue. 

Herbert's big moment 
Midseason draftee Marcus Herbert looked at home on the AFL stage from his early touches of the footy, showing composure at half-back and confidence to take the game on and baulk around opponents. His hardened VFL frame meant he was immediately up to the physical demands, and his big test came on the wing in the final quarter when he contested a ground ball with 199cm North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben. Herbert was ferocious and attacked the ball at speed, turning and taking significant contact and forcing a boundary throw in. Efforts like that, as well as his defensive accountability and physicality, would have endeared him immediately to his teammates, and he looks every chance of playing a significant role for the club at the top level. 

NORTH MELBOURNE   2.5   5.8   9.11   10.14 (74)
WEST COAST               3.4   5.7    7.9    10.13 (73)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Darling 4, Larkey 4, Sheezel, Trembath
West Coast: Shanahan 3, Waterman 3, Baker, Cole, Hough, Reid

BEST
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Larkey, Darling, Xerri, Blamires, Stephens, Simpkin
West Coast: Shanahan, Waterman, Kelly, Reid, Williams, Baker, Cole  

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
West Coast: Davis (concussion)

Crowd: 42,409 at Optus Stadium