NORTH Melbourne has made a dream start to life under Rhyce Shaw, beating Richmond by 37 points in a major upset at Marvel Stadium.

The Shinboner spirit was on full display on Friday night as the Kangaroos out-hunted the AFL's pressure kings and ran out 15.9 (99) to 9.8 (62) winners in Shaw's first game as caretaker coach after taking over from Brad Scott.

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North won the tackle count (68-55) and contested possessions (153-130) and never looked like being overtaken after booting six goals to one in a brilliant third quarter.

The Roos' dominant second half came despite being a man down after 150-game milestone man Jamie Macmillan succumbed to a calf injury.

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Ben Brown booted five goals, Mason Wood slotted four and senior leaders Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington and Shaun Higgins were superb in the midfield.

But it was all about the next generation on a night where the Arden St faithful were in full voice throughout.

Cameron Zurhaar laid 10 tackles, including crunching rundown efforts on Dylan Grimes and Nathan Broad, Jy Simpkin had 14 contested possessions, Luke Davies-Uniacke showed his creativity and Nick Larkey presented well up forward.

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North players were left stunned and emotional when they learned of Scott's immediate departure plans just hours before last week's game.

While the Roos defeated the Western Bulldogs in Scott's last hurrah, the question was whether an emotional comedown would follow.

But Zurhaar's five first-quarter tackles set the tone for a fierce performance that will live long in the memory at Arden St.

Little went right for Richmond despite another superb performance from Dustin Martin, who slotted three goals and had 21 touches.

Bolstered by the return of skipper Trent Cotchin from a long-term hamstring injury, the Tigers started promisingly but were uncharacteristically sloppy with ball in hand and were beaten convincingly around the ball.

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Rookie defender Ryan Garthwaite had the massive task of lining up on Brown and was monstered by the Kangaroos spearhead.

At the other end of the ground, Tigers' recruit Tom Lynch was dominated by Robbie Tarrant in another big scalp for the Kangaroos' backline leader.

MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Jamie Macmillan injured his left calf in the second quarter of his 150th game and didn't come back to the contest after half-time. Kayne Turner left the field in the last term nursing his shoulder and also had his ribs looked at by medical staff.

Richmond: Concerns were raised in the first term when Bachar Houli was collected hard and left the field with what seemed like a possible shoulder injury as well as being checked closely for concussion symptoms. The defender was taken to the rooms but came back quickly and played out the match, albeit with a decent black eye.

NEXT UP
The Roos will hope to make it two from two for Rhyce Shaw when they travel to Metricon Stadium for a Saturday twilight clash with Gold Coast, while the Tigers will have a tough challenge to get back on the winning track as they face Geelong at the MCG on Friday night.

NORTH MELBOURNE    4.1   6.7  12.7  15.9 (99)
RICHMOND                  3.1   6.3   7.4    9.8 (62)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 5, Wood 4, Anderson 2, Larkey, Simpkin, Polec, Thomas
Richmond: Martin 3, Butler 2, Lynch, Castagna, Prestia, Astbury

BEST
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Ziebell, Wood, Zurhaar, Brown, Tarrant, Simpkin
Richmond: Houli, Martin, Prestia, Stack, Castagna, Cotchin

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Macmillan (calf), Turner (ribs/shoulder)
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Margetts, Chamberlain, Hay

Official crowd: 29,326 at Marvel Stadium