A five-goal, last-quarter blitz from North Melbourne star Drew Petrie has lifted the Kangaroos to a crucial 15.13 (103) to 14.15 (99) win over Richmond in an AFL thriller at the MCG.
Petrie, who had been well held by Alex Rance with just two goals in the first three terms, sprang to life with five in the first 21 minutes of the last, taking some strong marks.
Substitute Matt Campbell then snapped what seemed the sealer to put the Kangaroos 17 points clear at the 25-minute mark, after they had started the final term seven points down.
But Richmond almost climbed off the floor, with speedsters Robin Nahas and Shane Edwards each putting through goals in the next three minutes to move their side within five points.
Richmond’s Shaun Grigg missed with a snap with 57 seconds to play, with the Tigers’ desperate attempts to gain one more shot at goal proving fruitless in the frenzied final seconds.
North’s win was their fifth in six games as they continue their charge towards a potential finals berth, while Richmond are fast falling out of contention with the loss their third in four matches and second in a row up for grabs until the end.
In between Petrie’s last-term heroics, Richmond’s Shane Tuck briefly regained the lead for the Tigers with back-to-back team-lifting goals, one from a strong pack mark and the second from a free-kick 55m out.
Richmond hurt themselves with poor discipline in the second term, giving away consecutive goals from 50m penalties as North surged as much as 22 points clear.
But the Tigers surged back with a five-goals-to-two third quarter, in which Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin, in his return from a two-game club-imposed suspension, kicked two goals each.
Captain Andrew Swallow was lion-hearted all day for the Kangaroos, the majority of his 29 disposals won in contests, including a game-high 10 clearances.
Scott Thompson was another fine performer with North, blanketing Riewoldt for most of the day, while veteran Brent Harvey had some important moments, setting up several goals and kicking one himself.
For the Tigers, Brett Deledio (31 disposals) fought extremely hard, as did fellow midfielders Tuck and Trent Cotchin.
