North Melbourne has ended its eight-year losing streak at the MCG, clinging on to defeat Richmond by four points.

Bullocking forward Cam Zurhaar was the difference, kicking four goals despite playing on a swollen foot due to an injury suffered during the week.

His haul got the Kangaroos over the line in a tightly-fought contest, 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74).

TIGERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

The win was the Roos' second for the season, coming after a draw against premier Brisbane in Hobart last weekend, and was their first at the MCG since Round 9, 2017.  

The Tigers hit the lead early in the last quarter, but the influential George Wardlaw threw himself into a contest to win the ball on the half-forward flank, setting up spearhead Nick Larkey to restore the lead.

The Roos stretched the margin back out to 12 points but Richmond hit back, setting up a desperate finale. 

Captain Jy Simpkin was among the senior Roos who have never before experienced victory in the MCG.

He was visibly proud and emotional post-match, after saluting while wearing a black armband to honour his grandmother, who passed away during the week. 

Ruck Tristan Xerri delivered a vintage performance, winning 52 hitouts to give the Roos first use at the clearances. Luke Davies-Uniacke led the Kangaroo ball-winners with 27 touches.

Zurhaar (four goals) was at his bustling best inside 50 to do the damage on the scoreboard, while Larkey (two goals, five marks) had to contend with Ben Miller for much of the afternoon.

It was riches to rags for the Kangaroos in the first half.

Youngsters Tom Powell and Colby McKercher were at the heart of their attacking play as they piled on six goals in the opening quarter.

A 23-point lead at quarter time was fair reward for the Roos' dominance, but the tables flipped after the break. The Tigers dominated possession and slowly erased the deficit, restricting the Roos to just four inside 50s and one goal for the quarter. 

One v two

In an entertaining subplot, last year's No.1 and No.2 draft selections met for the first time at AFL level. North Melbourne's Finn O'Sullivan landed the first blow, setting up the opening goal of the game with a neat kick inside 50 to Zurhaar, but it was Tiger Sam Lalor who stole the show. Bullocking through contested situations, flying at the footy, and hitting the scoreboard, Lalor finished the game with two goals from 16 disposals.

Rucks bringing the pressure

Rucks are typically lauded for their aerial presence and ability to add support on key position lines, but on Sunday afternoon both Richmond's Toby Nankervis and Tristan Xerri lit up the tackles column. Finishing with 13 and 11 respectively to lead their teams, their willingness to apply pressure once the ball was on the deck was evidence of each big man's impressive follow-up game. Outside of that pressure game, Nankervis' pure strength made him a presence in close, while also becoming dangerous in the front half, with 46 hitouts and five marks for the game, as Xerri's (52 hitouts, 11 clearances) handy season continued.

A hot start

North Melbourne came into the match without a first-quarter win to its name this year, but fresh off a dramatic draw with reigning premier Brisbane, it carried a sense of momentum into Sunday's clash. Following a tense, stoppage-heavy opening seven minutes, young Roo Finn O'Sullivan broke free to hit Cameron Zurhaar inside 50 to open the scoring. The Roos went on to pile another five goals on for the term, and ultimately went into the first break with a 23-point lead. Not only was it the club's first quarter-time lead since round 22 last year, the 6.0 (36) scoreline was its highest opening quarter score since round 14 last year against Collingwood.

RICHMOND                    2.1    6.2      9.6         11.8 (74)
NORTH MELBOURNE     6.0    7.1      10.5       12.6 (78)

GOALS
Richmond: Campbell 3, Lalor 2, Lynch 2, McIntosh 2, Ralphsmith, Sims
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Darling 2, Larkey 2, Davies-Uniacke, Konstanty, Maley, McKercher

BEST 
Richmond: Nankervis, Campbell, Lalor, Vlaustin, Taranto,
North Melbourne: Xerri, Zurhaar, Davies-Uniacke, McKercher, Comben

INJURIES
Nil

SUBSTITUTES 
Richmond: Kaleb Smith (replaced Luke Trainor in the last quarter)
North Melbourne: Zane Duursma (replaced Bailey Scott in the third quarter)

Crowd: 54,060 at the MCG