LUKE Davies-Uniacke and Nick Larkey have combined to help steer North Melbourne away from the wooden spoon with a 13-point win over last-placed Richmond.
Spearhead Larkey kicked five goals and Davies-Uniacke was outstanding in the engine room as the Kangaroos posted a 14.6 (90) to 10.17 (77) victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
KANGAROOS v TIGERS Full match coverage and stats
The explosive midfielder produced game-high tallies of 33 disposals and eight clearances, and finished his hard work with a career-best three goals.
The result was North's third win of the season, ending a three-match losing run and franking their stronger form since the mid-season bye.
It moved them one win clear of Richmond (2-18) with three rounds left to play.
Harry Sheezel (29 touches), Colby McKercher (31) and Bailey Scott (28) were all strong contributors for North, who celebrated co-captain Luke McDonald's 200th game in style.
Fresh off signing a contract extension, son-of-a-gun Jackson Archer impressed again in defence, while Tristan Xerri was influential in the ruck.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin kicked 0.2 from 16 disposals on return after five weeks out with a back injury, while Dion Prestia (29 touches), Tim Taranto (27) and Jack Graham (24) worked hard in a losing cause.
Martin almost kicked a spectacular goal from the boundary line with the first shot of the game and was desperate to get involved throughout the opening term.
It was a lively start littered with turnovers, especially by North Melbourne's defenders, and the Tigers held an eight-point lead at the first break with a 20-11 advantage in forward entries.
Davies-Uniacke coughed up one early goal when an errant pass was chopped off by Seth Campbell, but responded with the next major and kicked two classy goals on the run in the first half.
Zane Duursma took a perfect ride on Noah Balta to haul in a spectacular mark in the second quarter and tempers flared as North piled on three quick goals to take the lead.
Larkey kicked two of those and sparked a melee when he celebrated the second by getting in the face of Liam Baker, who had roughed up the Roos spearhead moments earlier after he took a mark.
The lead changed hands six times during an entertaining second term and the Tigers went to the main break one point in front.
Davies-Uniacke kicked his third major - despite shanking his set shot from 20m out - to edge the Kangaroos ahead in a third-quarter arm wrestle.
Four consecutive goals meant they turned for home with a game-high 18-point lead after Jaidyn Stephenson won a free kick and converted after the three-quarter time siren.
An inaccurate Richmond made all the running in the final term and got within seven points when Liam Baker kicked his second major, but Scott shut the gate with a calm set shot with 2:30 left on the clock.
Zane's bounding leap is up there among season's best
Zane Duursma has impressed in his first year, but his Virgin Australia Mark of the Year contender may just be the highlight of his maiden season. As Eddie Ford booted the ball long down the wing midway through the second term, Duursma timed his leap to perfection, jumping onto the shoulders of Richmond forward Noah Balta to pull down a mammoth grab that brought the crowd to their feet.
Richmond in box seat to claim wooden spoon
The loss has left the Tigers in serious danger of being handed their first wooden spoon since 2007. Richmond remains anchored to the bottom of the table, one game and percentage behind 17th-placed North. The Tigers have three more games up their sleeves to try to avoid a bottom-placed finish, but it won't be easy. Richmond faces St Kilda at bogey venue Marvel Stadium next week, before clashes with Hawthorn (MCG) and Gold Coast (People First Stadium) to wrap-up a very poor season.
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 7.3 12.6 14.6 (90)
RICHMOND 3.4 6.10 8.12 10.17 (77)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Larkey 5, Davies-Uniacke 3, Phillips, Powell, Scott, Stephenson, Teakle, Zurhaar
Richmond: Baker 2, Koschitzke 2, Bolton, Brown, Campbell, Green, Mansell, Ralphsmith
BEST
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Xerri, McKercher, Powell, Sheezel, Scott
Richmond: Baker, Prestia, Nankervis, Taranto, Hopper
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Stephens (ankle)
Richmond: Green (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Robert Hansen jnr (replaced Dylan Stephens in the third quarter)
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh (replaced Steely Green in the third quarter)
Crowd: 35,861 at Marvel Stadium
