Cooper Trembath hit a new career high as North Melbourne outfought Richmond for its seventh win of the season on Sunday.
The Kangaroos won by 25 points at the MCG, 10.13 (73) to 6.12 (48).
TIGERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats
Trembath's class was telling as he starred in his first game at the home of football.
He kicked four goals, one after hauling in a skilful one-hand mark, and set up Dylan Stephens for the sealing goal late in the fourth quarter.
Harry Sheezel (31 disposals, five clearances) and Luke Parker (30 disposals, 11 marks) were influential as the Roos took control after half-time.
George Wardlaw celebrated his 50-game milestone with two goals from 15 touches, while Caleb Daniel led all comers with a game-high 40 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, plus 16 marks and seven rebound 50s.
The game opened up after half-time, North extending its lead from eight points at the main break to 26 points at three-quarter time.
The scoreboard separation was mainly due to 20-year-old Trembath contributing two of North's three goals in the third term, while the Tigers added just four points to their tally.
Trembath also spent time in the ruck at centre bounce, combining with Tristan Xerri in one-two punch that created headaches for Richmond skipper Toby Nankervis, who returned to the line-up for his first game since round two.
The young Tigers refused to give in, kicking three of their six goals in the final term, two to utility Noah Balta and one to Liam Fawcett, but goals to Xerri and Stephens put the win well and truly out of doubt, making it back-to-back wins for North.
Despite the immaculate weather conditions, both sides struggled to hit the scoreboard in the first quarter, kicking just a goal apiece in the winter sunshine.
Errant ball use and poor decision making meant the game was often slow moving and contested, allowing both sides to flood into defence to make it difficult to find marks inside 50.
When North did get pace on the ball, a number of times due to the run and carry of Colby McKercher off half-back, the Roos looked a class above the Tigers.
Saving Big X
Regular Roos ruck Tristan Xerri had a couple of handy helpers today, with Cooper Trembath and Taylor Goad sharing the ruck load. The three big men took on Toby Nankervis and Noah Balta, in a combination that we will potentially see more of in the future. Clarkson said the plan was to manage Xerri's loads heading into the second half of the season. "We're just really mindful of the load that Big Xerri has to take for our side. When you combine all the stoppages with the centre bounces, he's sometimes doing 80 contests a game and that's just with the stoppage. With (Goad) and Trembath, Jack Darling can give us a bit of a chop out … that just dilutes the amount of responsibility you feel you need to rely on Big X to do all that."
Next Up
The Kangaroos have the chance to beat Essendon for the second time this season as they return to Marvel Stadium in Round 16. They face the Bombers next Sunday at 3.15pm AEST.
RICHMOND 1.2 3.4 3.8 6.12 (48)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 4.6 7.10 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Richmond: Balta 2, Alger, Cumming, Fawcett, Lefau
North Melbourne: Trembath 4, Wardlaw 2, Konstanty, Larkey, Stephens, Xerri
BEST
Richmond: Taranto, Tresize, Brown, Balta, Short
North Melbourne: Trembath, Wardlaw, Daniel, Sheezel, Parker
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
Crowd: 41,806 at the MCG