NORTH Melbourne has pulled off its best win of the Alastair Clarkson era, inflicting a costly 23-point defeat upon the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

Challenged several times, after leading by as much as 28 points, the plucky Kangaroos held their nerve in a Thursday night thriller to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2019.

BULLDOGS V KANGAROOS Full match details and stats

Inspired by forward Paul Curtis and midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke (31 disposals, two goals), North won 15.10 (100) to 11.11 (77) to end a five-game losing streak.

Despite enjoying its best season in seven years, North was yet to beat an opponent above it on the ladder before facing the eighth-placed Bulldogs.

Unlike previous winnable games when they crumbled late, the Kangaroos fended off the desperate Bulldogs, led by captain Marcus Bontempelli and fellow star Ed Richards.

The Bulldogs, who missed the finals when they finished ninth under the previous system last year, face a precarious final fortnight of the home and away season.

A win against North would have guaranteed them a wildcard spot, at the very least, but they will need to beat in-form Carlton or Melbourne to be guaranteed of not missing the finals.

In a further concern for the Bulldogs, ruckman Tim English was in discomfort with his knee late in the final quarter and was assessed in the rooms.

North had to play with a man down for the entire second half after defender Aidan Corr suffered issues with his back and was ruled out for the rest of the night.

The win for the Kangaroos was set up by an exhilarating first quarter from Curtis - the fourth-highest rated quarter of his career - who kicked the opening two goals and brought down a Mark of the Year contender.

Curtis finished with a game-high four goals and 19 possessions to dominate opponent Michael Sellwood.

The stirring win comes at a crucial time for Clarkson, who has faced questions about his future coming towards the end of his fourth season in charge at North.

The four-time Hawthorn premiership coach is contracted until the end of the season, but a push for change could have come with a poor end to this campaign.

But this result will quieten that noise and ensure he starts 2027 coaching at Arden St.

Roo hauls in huge Mark of the Year Contender
Paul Curtis was already having a field day in the first quarter with two early goals but it was this massive leap that lifted the roof off Marvel Stadium. The Roos livewire launched over the top of Bulldogs defender Michael Sellwood to take an absolute screamer, putting him well in contention for this year's Virgin Australia Mark of the Year.

Welcome back, George
To say North Melbourne has missed the grunt of George Wardlaw would be an understatement. The inside bull has missed the past month with a hamstring strain but his return on Thursday night brought smiles to all Roos supporters. The 22-year-old was on managed minutes but still made a massive impact on the contest, finishing with 19 disposals and a goal. But it was his crunching tackle on Ed Richards that typified his endeavour and defensive qualities, prompting Channel 7 commentator and First Up's Kane Cornes to call it 'one of the tackles of the year'.

WESTERN BULLDOGS        2.3    5.6    10.9    11.11 (77)
NORTH MELBOURNE    6.0    10.2    12.7    15.10 (100)
 
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Kennedy 2, Hynes, Bontempelli, Freijah, Khamis, Richards, Liberatore, Davidson
North Melbourne: Curtis 4, Darling 2, Davies-Uniacke 2, Banch 2, Simpkin, Wardlaw, Spargo, Xerri, Parker

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Bontempelli, West, Freijah, Bramble
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Curtis, Sheezel, Parker, Daniel, Zurhaar, Wardlaw
 
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: English (knee)
North Melbourne: Corr (back)
 
Crowd: 25,052 at Marvel Stadium