Melbourne has overwhelmed North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Saturday to momentarily move into the top four, prevailing 13.14 (92) to 11.10 (76).

And in doing so, the Demons put the Roos’ fading finals hopes on life support with five tough opponents left on their schedule.

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The Kangaroos burst out of the blocks with a six-goal opening quarter, before the Demons worked themselves into the game late in the first half.

After that, it was all Melbourne, with Steven King’s side winning repeatedly at the source and getting its ball movement game going.

The Dees kicked four goals to one in the third quarter and held firm in the last to run out 16-point victors.

The triumph did come at a cost, however, with

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3. DEES ANSWER THE CHALLENGE

Melbourne looked a little shell-shocked in the first term when the Kangaroos opened up a four-goal buffer.

But two quick goals to Matt Jefferson late saw the Dees head into the first break trailing by just 12. And from there, the match turned in their favour as North’s run stopped.

“They could smell fear – as soon as they smell fear, they’ll just put you to the sword,” Ben Dixon said of the Dees.

Dwayne Russell was full of praise for how Melbourne turned the match around – particularly through players who have battled to get into the line-up in the past.

“Started the season talking about whether Melbourne could be a contender for the top 10,” he said.

“Then we started talking top eight – and then we started talking top six.

“They are a contender for top four.

“And they are into the top four now with this victory.

“Maybe we should be talking about them as a premiership contender in 2026.”

The win lifts the Dees (48 points) into the top four – with Hawthorn (46 points) and Brisbane (44 points) still to play.

“A few of these Melbourne players like (Jake) Lever, dropped last year, but a big change under Steven King for this Melbourne team who lost Steven May, lost Clayton Oliver, lost Christian Petracca, haven’t had Jack Viney all year and yet they are on the rise up the ladder,” Russell said.

“They are threatening some of the big dogs of the comp right now.”

When asked how Melbourne “keep doing it”, skipper Max Gawn bristled in his answer.

“The question how does Melbourne keep doing it, I think we’ve done it enough for that question not to exist anymore,” he told Fox Footy.

“We’ve been able to suck it up time and time and time again.”

2. ROOS PROVE THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY

North Melbourne led by 24 points in a blistering start, but managed just a four-point buffer at the main break due to inaccuracy.

Worryingly, they kicked their sixth goal at the 22-minute mark of the second quarter – yet only managed five more after that; three in the dying minutes when the result was already done.

“This has been the problem for North – playing in patches, showing good signs,” AFL great Jason Dunstall said.

“But if you can’t do it for four quarters the good teams will just open you up.”

Stats showed at half time, North were sitting at just 29% for scores per inside 50.

And they didn’t fare much better efficiency wise after half time – despite coach Alastair Clarkson calling for more “polish”.

Cam Zurhaar was the first offender in the third when his horror kick in went directly to Matt Jefferson – who put it back over Zurhaar’s head.

“Clarko spoke about taking care of the footy – and that is not taking care of the footy!” Dunstall lamented.

“You cannot afford to do that!”

“This is the difference between a potential top four side and a side that’s trying to get themselves into a wildcard discussion,” Nathan Buckley added.

“It’s these errors here – it’s the shooting yourself in the foot that really does hurt.

“If you start coughing up balls like that and gifting them to the opposition, who are already on their tucker and winning clearance, winning field position, you know they are going to play the game out. It makes for a long afternoon.”

As North went on a 46-minute goal drought, Dwayne Russell said: “North fans have seen this movie before”.

Even on their rebound, the Roos were guilty of turnover – and Melbourne made them pay.

“They’ve done this the last couple of weeks – been competitive but had games stolen from them,” Russell said.

“Melbourne has found a gear it doesn’t appear North Melbourne has,” Buckley added.

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1. INJURY SOURS WIN THAT BOOSTS TOP FOUR HOPES

Melbourne may have secured the four points to keep their double chance hopes alive, but it’s come at a cost.

In the first term, Max Gawn sent a scare through the camp when he copped a knock.

And in the second term, Kysaiah Pickett left the ground in worrying scenes after getting a nasty kick to the face.

Luckily for the Dees, both players were able to shrug off those concerns – but that was the start of the woes.

Defender Dan Turner copped a knock to his ribs in an accidental clash with a teammate in the second term.

And while he was cleared to return after half time, a second hit in the third term saw Turner trudge off the field – before an ambulance was called for the defender.

“They have lost a player in Dan Turner,” Ben Dixon reported at three quarter time.

“In the first quarter he copped some friendly fire from a teammate – just cops that one to the left ribs.

“He came from the ground, went into the rooms, was assessed and given the all clear to come back onto the ground.

“This one (in the third), pretty innocuous but you can see there the left ribs once again troubling him.

“(Matt) Jefferson comes in, a little bit of friendly fire again.

“Really struggling.”

At the time, Turner was slow to exit the game. Vision from inside Melbourne’s rooms showed the defender walking himself to the ambulance while surrounded by paramedics.

Changkuoth Jiath then went down in the fourth quarter and was unable to return due to a lower leg issue.

Dixon reported it’s a suspected calf for the 2026 recruit.

The Dees are already without fellow recruits Brody Mihocek due to his serious neck injury sustained early this year and Jai Culley (ACL).

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