When North Melbourne went into quarter time on the weekend 26-points down, the vultures were once again circling, ready to once again tear into the club’s winless start to the season.

However, the boys in the royal blue and white had other ideas, turning the tide of the game to snatch victory.

AFL

“While it took the Kangaroos a while to work into the game, their effort to shift the momentum when the going was tough is a promising sign. With the game on the line in the final half, key Kangaroos players dug in deep to wrest the ascendancy back from Hawthorn and take the game into their own hands.” - AAP with Sophie Welsh.

It was a familiar face leading from the front, ably supported by a cast of North’s future stars and a reinvigorated Aaron Hall.

ABC 

“Jy Simpkin has now served a significant apprenticeship and is flourishing in the midfield. His 38-possession game was a career high and he complemented veteran Ben Cunnington – 37 possessions – superbly.

“Luke Davies-Uniacke, the fourth pick in the 2017 draft, is starting to arrive as a player with his strength, step and clean finishing catching the eye, and Tarryn Thomas shows glimpses of his immense natural ability.” - Alister Nicholson

On the Couch

“Ben Cunnington is obviously a key to them in the midfield and he’s been able to play some really good footy and help those younger players come along.” – Jonathan Brown

AFL

“Ben Cunnington was especially prolific in the final term, providing great intensity and fight around the ball. He finished with 37 disposals – including 27 contested possessions – and 13 clearances. Three of Cameron Zurhaar’s four goals came in the final half, sparking the Roos’ fightback and helping claw back the margin.” - AAP with Sophie Welsh.

Herald Sun

“Last week Jy Simpkin was in the dislikes, not because he was playing poorly, but because he hadn’t taken the steps forward this season as was expected. Basically, his numbers went backwards compared to last season. On Saturday, he was outstanding and underpinned why many at North Melbourne believe he is the club’s next captain. He had career-highs in almost every facet of the game and, in the post-match, a smile which lit up the TV screens. The scenes at Hobart are why we love footy. The Kangaroos’ first win came after they were five goals down and came on the back of some special individual performances. One of them was by Aaron Hall. His past three games have produced 33, 37 and 28 disposals and improved defence. Not bad from a player who was considered a list clogger less than 12 months ago.” - Mark Robinson

The superb second half fightback showcased the best that North has to offer, and is a positive sign of a bright future.

Twitter - David King

ABC Grandstand

"You look at passages of play from North Melbourne, you can see the system developing, you can see the process of what they're trying to do.

"There's no doubt [what] they're going to be, when the final product is developed … it's a high-pressure team that wants to get up in the face of the opposition, turn the ball over and then go offensively with speed." – Adam Ramanauskas

At the final siren though, it was all about David Noble. The man who claimed his first AFL victory 10,975 days after his journey at the top level started as a player with Fitzroy, and on his birthday too.

AFL360

“For David Noble who we’ve seen in footy for a couple of decades, this is a moment. This is a great moment in his life and his football journey, and that it happened on his birthday and it happened in Launceston, it was great.” – Mark Robinson

Twitter - Patrick Dangerfield

On the Couch

“I did their game about five weeks ago down in Geelong, they had a fantastic first half and from that point on they’ve played some really good football. Well done to those guys who’ve been working extremely hard.” – Jonathan Brown

The victory is no less than what North deserved after such an improvement from the start of the season.

On the Couch

“I did their game about five weeks ago down in Geelong, they had a fantastic first half and from that point on they’ve played some really good football. Well done to those guys who’ve been working extremely hard.” – Jonathan Brown

AFL 360

“You couldn’t turn away watching these scenes … when they won it the expression and the outburst of joy and reward, for so long they’ve been training. To experience this, everyone who’s played football there’s some great moments in the game and one of them is being in the rooms, singing the song after a hard fought win, here you forget you’re and adult and you sing like you’re a ten year old and think ‘this is just brilliant’.” – Mark Robinson

Twitter - Glenn McFarlane