North Melbourne will sweat on a potential ankle injury to young half-back Riley Hardeman after losing Friday afternoon's match simulation to Melbourne by 80 points.
The Kangaroos had few answers to a fast-moving Demons outfit at Casey Fields led by Kysaiah Pickett and his younger cousin Latrelle.
The older Pickett kicked five goals as the Demons won 19.15 (129) to 7.7 (49).
Skipper Nick Larkey kicked two goals on a tough afternoon for North Melbourne.
Finn O'Sullivan showed some lovely signs through the midfield, while Zane Duursma had a few good patches with limited supply.
Fellow forward Callum Coleman-Jones took some strong marks, but struggled in front of goal.
Jy Simpkin used the ball nicely into attack when he had the opportunity, but the Dees' contested-ball dominance meant those chances were few and far between.
The two sides played four 25-minute quarters, with time on only applied after goals. The end of the second and fourth terms saw two minutes of game scenario work, the first with Melbourne ahead by two points (Dees won) and the second with the Roos up by two (Dees won again, Harry Sharp with the sealer, kicked over his head within the first 40 seconds).
Train-on players Zac Becker and Tom Blamires saw extended game time, as the Roos consider whether to sign a player during the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP).
Both played mainly in defence, with Blamires pushing up the ground to thump a raking ball inside 50 to set up Larkey's second goal in the second term.
Hardeman's injury was the unfortunate talking point from the first half at Casey Fields.
The third-year defender went to ground in a marking contest with Demon Tom Sparrow late in the second quarter.
He was helped from the ground by medical staff in evident pain, and took no further part in the contest.
North Melbourne's pre-season continues in Ballarat next weekend with a sold-out AAMI Community Series match against Collingwood at Mars Stadium on Sunday, March 1.
The Kangaroos host Port Adelaide in their season opener at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 15.
Melbourne 6.3 9.8 13.11 19.15 (129)
North Melbourne 2.4 4.6 6.6 7.7 (49)
GOALS
Melbourne: K.Pickett 5, Kentfield 3, Mihocek 2, Chandler 2, Steele 2, Laurie, Fritsch, Tholstrup, Langford, van Rooyen
North Melbourne: Larkey 2, Darling 2, Duursma, Zurhaar, Powell
MELBOURNE
2. Jacob Van Rooyen, 3. Christian Salem, 4. Harvey Langford, 5. Xavier Lindsay, 6. Caleb Windsor, 8. Jake Lever, 9. Jack Steele, 10. Daniel Turner, 12. Koltyn Tholstrup, 14. Changkuoth Jiath, 15. Ed Langdon, 16. Bailey Laurie, 19. Xavier Taylor, 21. Matthew Jefferson, 22. Blake Howes, 24. Trent Rivers, 25. Tom McDonald, 26. Jed Adams, 27. Max Heath, 28. Brody Mihocek, 30. Harry Sharp, 31. Bayley Fritsch, 32. Tom Sparrow, 33. Latrelle Pickett, 36. Kysaiah Pickett, 37. Kade Chandler, 39. Ricky Mentha Jnr, 44. Luker Kentfield
Absent: Max Gawn*, Steven May, Jack Viney, Jai Culley, Jake Bowey, Jake Melksham, Thomas Matthews, Shane McAdam, Tom Campbell, Kalani White, Harrison Petty, Oscar Berry, Riley Onley, Aidan Johnson, Jack Henderson, Any Moniz-Wakefield
NORTH MELBOURNE
1. Lachy Dovaston, 2. Finn O'Sullivan, 3. Harry Sheezel, 5. Caleb Daniel, 7. Zane Duursma, 8. Bailey Scott, 9. Luke Davies-Uniacke, 12. Jy Simpkin, 15. Dylan Stephens, 17. Riley Hardeman, 19. Griffin Logue, 20. Nick Larkey, 21. Callum Coleman-Jones, 24. Tom Powell, 26. Luke Parker, 27. Jack Darling, 30. Charlie Comben, 32. Toby Pink, 37. Cooper Harvey, 38. Tristan Xerri, 39. Zac Becker (train-on player), 41. Jacob Konstanty, 44. Cam Zurhaar, 46. Robbie Hansen Junior
Absent: Aidan Corr, George Wardlaw, Colby McKercher, Luke McDonald, Charlie Spargo, Luke Urquhart, Zac Fisher, Wil Dawson, Taylor Goad, Blake Thredgold, Paul Curtis, Hugo Mikunda, Josh Goater, Brayden George, Jackson Archer, Matt Whitlock, River Stevens, Zac Banch, Cooper Trembath
* Played in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday
