North Melbourne upset St Kilda by 33 points on Sunday to claim the Saints’ spot in the top eight in a spiteful clash that could have repercussions at the AFL Tribunal.
The Kangaroos trailed by 19 points at quarter-time but led by two goals at three-quarter time and powered away to win 21.10 (136) to 15.13 (103).
Midfielder Daniel Wells, who was instrumental in North’s shock win over Adelaide last week, had another day out at Etihad Stadium with 34 possessions and two goals while Drew Petrie booted a game-high four goals.
Leigh Adams, with 32 disposals and two goals, was also influential.
Both teams went into the game with 6-6 records in a crucial encounter and it was the Saints who blinked first, dropping one spot to ninth.
Lindsay Thomas and Lachie Hansen kicked three goals each for the Kangaroos who powered home with an eight-goal final term to St Kilda’s five goals.
Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne, David Armitage, Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven kicked two goals each for the Saints.
Skipper Nick Riewoldt contributed only one major and was held to 10 possessions by Nathan Grima. Hayes was inspirational for the Saints with 29 disposals and seven clearances.
North kicked the first two goals of the game but the Saints scored seven of the next eight majors to lead by 26 points early in the second term.
The Kangaroos outscored the Saints six goals to three to trail by just two points at halftime.
North skipper Andrew Swallow kicked a goal after receiving two 50-metre penalties when hit high by Jarryn Geary at the 31-minute mark.
The Saints subbed off Rhys Stanley (hamstring) for Terry Milera and defender Jason Blake also limped off in the third term with an ankle problem.
Petrie and Robbie Tarrant contributed two of North’s four goals in the third quarter as the Kangaroos hit the front.
North stretched their lead to 31 points at the 16-minute mark of the final term with a long bomb from Thomas as Brendon Goddard lashed out in frustration at his North opponent Sam Wright on the wing behind play in an incident which may come under scrutiny from the match review panel.
But three goals in seven minutes kept the Saints in touch before Ryan Bastinac and Wright pushed North’s lead back out to 25 points, followed by a fitting late goal to Wells.
St Kilda host Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night while the Kangaroos are at home to West Coast in Hobart earlier on Saturday.