Alastair Clarkson threw an on-field curveball in North Melbourne's massive 75-point win over Richmond, playing bullocking forward Cam Zurhaar off half-back in a move that paid quick dividends.

"A little bit on the basis that we've had success with (Luke) Parker going back there, and as our side develops – (Colby) McKercher's pretty much (just) played half-back, so pretty much they swapped," senior coach Clarkson said.

KANGAROOS v TIGERS Full match coverage and stats

"We want those guys to have the flexibility long-term to be able to go to different parts of the ground when things aren't going to well for us and to allow the balance of our front-end to look a little bit different.

"Is that the reason (Paul) Curtis bobs up and kicks six for us? Part of it was he would have been playing a bit of Zurhaar's position that he hasn't played before, but I think Zurhaar behind the ball was really important for us."

North Melbourne has now won four from six games to open its season, although tougher opponents await, with Greater Western Sydney, Geelong, Sydney, Adelaide and Gold Coast to come before a mid-season bye.

"Every opponent in our eyes is tough. The last three weeks in particular, leading into this game – Brisbane is the reigning back-to-back premier, and before that, we had Carlton and Essendon with their backs against the wall," Clarkson said.

"All we want to work on is our process and method, and if we keep working at that – there were parts of the game where Richmond had their chances, and it could have looked very, very different on the scoreboard at half-time if they'd taken them. We'll just keep working on our method. 

"But pleasingly, (Cooper) Trembath, I don't think he touched the ball in the first half, he still competed hard for us and went into the ruck. Just pleased that if these guys can stick to their processes, they can get themselves back into the game if they've been a little bit quiet early."