But the 10.9 (69) to 7.15 (57) win will not be one for the DVD collection. The match was error-ridden and almost snatched from the Kangaroos’ grasp by a fast-finishing Essendon.
The Dons kicked the first two goals of the final quarter, heaping the pressure on North.
First, Brent Stanton's clever snap gave the Bombers life before Daniel Pratt became the answer to future trivia questions.
The Kangaroo defender could not find a target from a kick-in and wandered back towards goal when the umpire called him to play on. Pratt could not escape Lloyd who shepherded him over the line and successfully appealed for the first deliberately rushed behind decision of the season.
Lloyd converted the goal -- the 899th of his career -- but remained stranded on that number as the Kangaroos sured up the victory when Hamish McIntosh put through his team’s first goal for the quarter at the 24-minute mark.
North appeared to have done enough during the third term, a quarter that started scrappily and got worse from a skills perspective.
It began when a terrible miss from David Hale turned into a seven-point play for North, with Brent Harvey intercepting the kick-in to goal.
It was a play that was repeated moments later at the other end of the ground, when Paddy Ryder's point was followed by Matthew Lloyd's second goal after he claimed another errant kick in.
Lloyd should have added another but an interchange transgression meant Essendon lost the ball when it was in the hands of the champion full-forward just 20m out.
The moment energised the Roos who answered Jason Winderlich's goal with two more to Hale and a Brent Harvey classic, sharking the ball from the centre bounce and running in to goal from 50m.
The 20-point three-quarter time margin was too great for Essendon to haul in, although the Kangas can be thankful the poor finishing in front of goal that may have cost the Bombers the game.
North captain Brent Harvey starred, shrugging off his indifferent early season form to collect 33 disposals and three goals in a best on ground performance.
David Hale was constantly dangerous in attack, although his kicking for goal let him down at times, and Jack Ziebell again showed why he is such a highly rated member of the 2008 draft pack.
David Zaharakis and Alwyn Davey provided excellent run for the Bombers and Lloyd was a constant threat in front of goals.
In the early stages, Essendon showed plenty of endeavour but not a great deal of polish in keeping with the Roos, who themselves were guilty of mishandling and disposal errors.
As a result the first half was a low scoring, if willing, affair.
The Kangaroos first two goals featured the old and the new. Harvey drilled through a set shot for the game's first goal, which was followed up by a composed effort by Ziebell from 50m.
Andrew Lovett's reply for Essendon was immediate and electric. The onballer snaffled the ball from the ensuing centre bounce before running to 50m and sending home a wonderful goal.
But North re-established their two-goal break through Hale, who marked unchecked inside 50 before kicking his team's third, and final, goal for the quarter.
It was Hale again who, after the break, capitalised on some slicker work by the Kangaroos to establish a handy 19-point break.
A sensational dash from half-back by Courtenay Dempsey set up Adam McPhee for the Bombers' second, but Drew Petrie marked and goaled to keep North's advantage at three straight kicks.
A late goal to Lloyd cut the lead to 10 points and saw some tempers flare, with a dust-up involving several players at Essendon's half-forward line.
North Melbourne 3.3 5.5 9.7 10.9 (69)
Essendon 1.3 3.7 5.11 7.15 (57)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Hale 4, Harvey 3, Ziebell, Petrie, McIntosh
Essendon: Lloyd 3, Winderlich, Stanton, Lovett, McPhee
BEST
North Melbourne: Harvey, Hale, Hansen, Ziebell, Urquhart, Simpson.
Essendon: Davey, Zaharakis, Lloyd, Stanton, Watson
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Matt Campbell (hamstring)
Essendon: Hayden Skipworth (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Chamberlain, Pannell
Official crowd: 33,842 at Docklands
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
