The Kangaroos won 17.9 (111) to 12.18 (90) despite twice forfeiting comfortable leads and trailing for the first time early in the final quarter when Essendon pair Michael Hurley and Jake Melksham kicked back-to-back goals.
The Roos recovered and then rallied to kick the final four goals of the game through Lindsay Thomas, Cameron Pederson, Ryan Bastinac and Drew Petrie.
It is the first time the Kangaroos have won three games in a row since rounds 11 to 13 last season, and it's the Bombers' first loss at Etihad Stadium in five games, and first for the season at the Docklands venue.
James Hird's men also haven't returned a victory since they defeated the Brisbane Lions by 36 points in round eight.
Scott said the result, which came after wins over Adelaide and Gold Coast, showed his players' resilience.
"For our guys, it does show character when you're in front all day, you look to be controlling the game and then the opposition get a sniff and they get back in front for that short period of time," Scott said.
"It shows character to be able to hold on and be able to come back, despite the circumstances."
The Bombers were compromised by injuries, starting when they lost Nathan Lovett-Murray before the bounce with a calf injury he sustained at training, which saw former Cat Brent Prismall come in for his second senior game for the year.
Prismall was the substitute player and was called upon midway through the second term when Heath Hocking - playing in his first game back from a three-week suspension - was carried from the field with concussion.
Hocking collided with Luke Delaney in what Scott later described as a "genuine attempt to smother the ball".
The Bombers remained in the wars when they lost Cale Hooker to a three-week hamstring injury in the third quarter while Leroy Jetta corked his knee before half-time and Tayte Pears - in his first game since round 13 last year - corked a calf but played out the game.
Hurley carried a calf injury but still kicked four goals.
Still, the Bombers showed excellent resilience to reel in a 31-point lead midway through the second quarter back to two shortly before half-time, and then a 20-point advantage early in the third term back to a goal within the same quarter.
However, the Roos may be without in-form big man Todd Goldstein for next Sunday's clash with Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium with Scott admitting they won't take any chances after he injured his ankle in the first quarter.
Goldstein was also reported for striking Essendon's Ben Howlett.
Influential players
Daniel Wells was enormous in the first quarter with four clearances as the Kangaroos motored away to lead by as much as 25 points but it was Brent Stanton and Michael Hurley in the second quarter who got the Bombers back in the game. Stanton had seven touches (16 to half-time) and Hurley kicked two goals, while Tom Bellchambers took advantage of Todd Goldstein's increased time on the bench owing to an ankle problem to gain ascendancy in the ruck.
After the break, Michael Hibberd got busy for the Bombers with 13 touches for the second half (22 for the game) and four rebounds, while Thomas kicked three goals (four for the day) and Cameron Pederson contributed two of his three. Liam Anthony - the Roos' substitute player deployed in the third quarter - had 13 touches and four inside 50s, and was a factor in the deciding patch in the final quarter while Brady Rawlings was one of the Roos' best players with 34 touches.
The moment
In a spiteful and exhausting third quarter, spot fires broke out at regular intervals across the ground as the Bombers grew frustrated with their inability to capitalise on their dominance in forward entries and the Kangaroos became annoyed they couldn't make a clean break. It came to a head at the 26-minute mark when Hurley gave away a 50m penalty to Michael Firrito on the city-side wing for late contact after the Roo marked. As Firrito came in, Hibberd forcibly remonstrated with Lindsay Thomas further up the field for his own bump against Jobe Watson, which left the Kangaroo dazed on the ground. Firrito was given another 50m, which took him to the goalsquare. The goal - Firrito's only for the day - ended the Bombers' two-goal run and put the Kangaroos 13 points ahead.
What it means
It means the Bombers are tumbling down the ladder after being placed third after round eight having lost their four last matches. Saturday's game has also seen their injury list inflate with at least Hooker to miss Friday night's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG. Their healthy percentage should keep them in the eight but wins to St Kilda, Melbourne or Richmond this weekend will see them joined on 22 points ahead of round 14.
For the Kangaroos, it leaves them knocking on the door of the eight with a winnable clash against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on the immediate horizon. They're also in a good position injury wise with Lachie Hansen to come back next week from concussion, Daniel Pratt to return from a thumb and Hamish McIntosh nearing his VFL comeback from a lengthy Achilles problem.
What the coaches said
Essendon (James Hird)
"Kicking so many points is always frustrating and I think our start was frustrating too. That's two weeks in a row that we haven't started well and that was disappointing, but you never like to lose a game so it's just disappointing [all around]."
North Melbourne (Brad Scott)
"I always say that people think that it's something you drastically change and things turn around when really, we've just been working hard on the fundamentals of the game. We knew from the things we look at closely we weren't far away; we just had to add a bit more polish to our game. I'm under no illusions that Essendon had 30 scoring shots to our 26 so it's nice to sit here in victory when we kicked accurately and the opposition didn't. They had their chances to win the game and didn't take them, and that's been us at various stages throughout the year."
Dream Team highlight
Essendon
David Zaharakis ($300,400) finished strongly to score 124 points for his Dream Team coaches. Popular first-year player Dyson Heppell ($301,700) had one of his quieter games with 58 points.
North Melbourne
Rawlings ($328,900) and Andrew Swallow ($399,200) led the way for the Roos with 115 and 113 points respectively. Cam Pedersen ($166,700) could be one to watch with three goals helping him to 84 points in his fifth AFL game.
Next four: The fixture ahead
Essendon
The Bombers have little respite with a big Friday night encounter against Hawthorn at the MCG. It doesn't get much easier after that with a round 15 clash against Geelong at Etihad Stadium before they face off against the Tigers once again at the MCG. Essendon then travels to Adelaide to take on the Crows.
North Melbourne
The Roos travel to Adelaide next for a twilight clash against Port Adelaide with games against St Kilda (Etihad), Collingwood (MCG) and the Western Bulldogs (MCG) awaiting them on their return.
Quarter by quarter summary
First quarter
North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey got his team off to a good start with a goal just 19 seconds into the game. It turned out to be the first of five unanswered goals as the slick Roos bounced out to a 25-point lead while the wayward Bombers put eight points in succession on the scoreboard. Paddy Ryder took a great contested mark and kicked a goal from close range after the siren to make it a 19-point game at quarter-time. Goldstein was important early for the Roos, but rolled his right ankle and got reported for striking Ben Howlett in the opening term.
North Melbourne by 19 points.
Second quarter
Angus Monfries drew his team closer with the first goal of the quarter, but the Roos replied with three quick-fire goals of their own including one from a set shot by Petrie after he took a magnificent one-handed mark. The margin blew out to 31 points and, with Heath Hocking stretchered off with concussion after a collision with Luke Delaney, the Bombers looked in trouble. However, they dug deep to mount a stirring comeback with a Hurley set shot the highlight of a rally that saw the deficit slashed to just two points before Cameron Pedersen kicked a goal from long range to give North some breathing space at half-time. Brent Prismall was subbed on to replace Hocking.
North Melbourne by eight points.
Third quarter
Lindsay Thomas and Pedersen stretched the margin with the first two goals of the term, but the Bombers continued to play with great spirit despite their mounting injury concerns. Hooker departed the game with a hamstring complaint and Hurley copped a knock to his calf, but Essendon refused to yield. Monfries booted two goals as the Bombers reduced the margin to six points. Undisciplined play from Kyle Hardingham and Hurley allowed Roo Michael Firrito to kick a goal from the square, but Hurley redeemed himself somewhat with his third goal setting up a thrilling finale.
North Melbourne by seven points.
Fourth quarter
Hurley drew the teams level with his fourth goal early in the final term and the Bombers hit the front for the first time in the game at the 12-minute mark when Melksham kicked a goal from close range. But just when the Kangaroos appeared set to be overwhelmed, Thomas used his body well to get behind the defender and snatch back the lead with his fourth goal. Essendon kept coming, but the Kangaroos finished full of run to win their fifth game of the season.
North Melbourne wins by 21 points.
Essendon 1.8 6.13 10.17 12.18 (90)
North Melbourne 5.3 9.3 13.6 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Essendon: Hurley 4, Monfries 3, Crameri, Ryder, Stanton, Hibberd, Melksham
North Melbourne: Thomas 4, Wright 3, Pedersen 3, Petrie 3, Bastinac, Harvey, Wells, Firrito
BEST
Essendon: Zaharakis, Hurley, Watson, Stanton, Hibberd, Monfries, Howlett
North Melbourne: Rawlings, Wells, Harvey, Petrie, Swallow, Thomas, Greenwood, Pedersen
Essendon: Hocking (concussion), Hurley (calf), Hooker (hamstring), Jetta (corked knee), Pears (corked calf), Lovett-Murray (calf) replaced in the selected side by Brent Prismall
North Melbourne: Goldstein (ankle), Delaney (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Heath Hocking (concussion) replaced by Brent Prismall in the second quarter
North Melbourne: Ben Cunnington replaced by Liam Anthony in the third quarter
REPORTS
Essendon: Nil
North Melbourne: Goldstein reported for striking Howlett in the first quarter
Umpires: Donlon, Bowen, Nicholls
Official crowd: 42,329 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs
