AFL season 2016: North Melbourne beat Melbourne in a thriller

• As it happened: North Melbourne v Melbourne
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NORTH MELBOURNE 8.2 10.4 17.7 21.10 (136) MELBOURNE 2.2 11.5 14.7 20.11 (131)
Goals: North Melbourne: B Harvey 6 T Goldstein 5 J Waite 4 D Petrie 2 S Gibson 2 J MacMillan J Ziebell. Melbourne: D Kent 4 J Hogan 3 J Watts 3 C Oliver 2 M Gawn 2 A vandenBerg D Tyson J Harmes J Viney L Dunn N Jones.
Best: North Melbourne: Goldstein, Harvey, Waite, Gibson, Jacobs, Firrito. Melbourne: Hogan, Oliver, Gawn, Vince, Viney, Harmes.
Injuries: North Melbourne: T Garner (hamstring).
​Umpires: Ben Ryan, Chris Kamolins, Mathew Nicholls.
Official Crowd: 12,607 at Blundstone Arena.

Hobart: This was a game for the ages, played at a pulsating rate to the final act as Melbourne ventured forward one last time. Billy Stretch snapped from 30 metres out milliseconds after the siren. He missed, but in no way did that diminish what was a genuine classic.

Brent Harvey had a good afternoon at Blundstone Arena. Photo: Robert Prezioso

The contest was provided spice by a goalpost-shaking breeze blowing towards the Derwent River end. The wind had loomed as a factor pre-game, but few would have predicted the size of its impact.

North won the toss. If it was cricket they would have had Melbourne five down by drinks on the first morning. Instead it was football, and so the Roos slammed on seven straight goals in an opening-quarter blitz. Suddenly for the Demons, last week's loss to Essendon didn't seem so bad.

But even as the Roos fired their early salvos, Melbourne had still been holding their own in the contested ball stakes. A pair of steadying goals late in the first quarter gave them a taste, but it was in the second term that the Demons took charge.

Jack Watts celebrates a goal. Photo: Getty Images

After a week of scrutiny about his body language, Jesse Hogan had been sent to start the game in the centre square. The move didn't last long, but with nostrils flared the West Australian bagged three first-half goals to help haul his team back into the contest.

Hard though it may be to believe, Hogan may not be the most exciting player on the Melbourne list. In a quarter in which his team conceded eight goals, third-gamer Clayton Oliver had 10 disposals and six clearances, even if a 50m penalty he conceded led to the second of North ruckman Todd Goldstein's four first-half goals. He kicked two in the second term as the Demons steamed to an unlikely half-time lead.

The pace didn't drop after the break, but in contrast to the extremes of the first two quarters, the sides traded goals until midway through the third.

Using the goals economy of the first half, this was a great result for Melbourne. Drawing level when kicking into the breeze was akin to a win. North finally started getting bang for their buck when Jamie Macmillan goaled on the run past the halfway mark of the quarter. Moments later Sam Gibson capitalised after Bernie Vince was pinged for an errant handball. Harvey then kicked his fifth - the result of a 50m penalty.

So the Dees found themselves three goals down at the final change. They were kicking with the wind, and with the advantage of a spare man after North lost Taylor Garner to a hamstring injury.

Their chase started well, Dean Kent bending one back from the pocket. He added another not long after, setting the scene for captain Nathan Jones to goal and level the scores at the nine-minute mark.

Briefly brought to his knees in the third term, Jarrad Waite took a strong pack mark before slotting his second to restore the Roos' advantage. Jack Watts had provided spark in the second term surge, but after taking a strong mark inside 50, he resisted the urge to shoot for his fourth goal of the afternoon.

Instead he sought to find a man closer to goal. It was a decision he may live to regret. His kick was picked off. The Roos rebounded with interest as Goldstein equalled his career-high tally by kicking his fifth. Jack Viney halved the margin a moment later, but Waite converted a set shot. Harvey then found the ball out the back to kick his sixth - a career-best.

Harvey said afterwards he was aware he had reached a new personal high, in his 412th game no less.

"Yeah I did know that one, I've been reminded by a couple of the boys as well," Harvey said.

Still Melbourne pegged the margin back to two goals, with just over two minutes to run. Aaron vandenBerg streamed to 30m out, only to miss a regulation shot. Kent kept it alive to the dying seconds when he slotted a set shot from 40m out with 20 seconds to go. The Demons went forward again, but fell short. Just.