1. Mitch's glitch could prove a Brownlow hitch
A rare lapse in discipline from Hawthorn star Tom Mitchell in the second quarter cost his team a goal and could also cost him a chance to win this year's Brownlow Medal. The Hawks were about to take a kick-in when Mitchell used a right forearm to make high contact to head of ruckman Todd Goldstein off the ball. It was perhaps an act of frustration given Mitchell had been nullified by North tagger Ben Jacobs. He finished with just 19 possessions to end his 32-game streak of at least 20 touches. Moments earlier, North youngster Cameron Zurhaar was reported for rough conduct after bumping David Mirra from behind into the fence. Second-gamer Mirra hurt his left shoulder but played on.
2. Early night for new father Higgins
North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins had planned to miss the game if wife Heidi went into labour with their first child but, to the relief of all, daughter Rosie Joan arrived at 5.30am. On an hour's sleep, the 30-year-old reigning club champion played with typical industry and was running on air … until he was knocked out cold. Higgins was running with the ball across half-forward and ran straight into a brick wall in the form of Hawk Ryan Burton, who was virtually stationary. Higgins remained motionless for some time before being taken from the field in a motorised cart. In the same passage of play, North teammate Ed Vickers-Willis was also concussed after copping a knock while tackling Hawk Harry Morrison.
3. North's record-breaking first quarter
North Melbourne and Hawthorn have locked horns at League level for 93 years but, margin-wise, the Kangaroos have never produced a better first quarter against the Hawks. The Roos controlled play from the outset, winning the ball in close, spreading and delivering with precision and speed, and of course they boasted a multi-pronged attack comprising Coleman Medal leader Ben Brown (3.1), skipper Jack Ziebell (2.1) and Jarrad Waite (a wasteful 1.2). Little wonder Alastair Clarkson's quarter-time address almost raised the roof. By half-time North extended its lead to 57 points after firing 20 scoring shots to just three (all goals, and two of them coming from North clangers). Injuries and a resurgent Hawthorn closed the gap, but North held on to break a four-game hoodoo against Hawthorn.
A GAME OF TWO HALVES: Full match coverage and stats
4. Hawthorn's fightback
The Hawks were dead at half-time – virtually 10 goals down and total bereft of energy. Clarkson's men predictably came out hard after the break, rattling on the opening three goals of the third term, with Luke Breust nailing two of them and three for the term. Their momentum was only broken by the delay in play due to the Higgins incident, but the contest had swung 180 degrees, and the Hawks got the next four goals to slash the margin to just 19 points early in the last quarter. However, North steadied to post a famous victory.
5. Hartung goes one up on old mates
It was a sweet afternoon for North Melbourne midfielder Billy Hartung in his first game against his old club. Delisted by the Hawks at the end of last season and thrown a lifeline by the Kangaroos, Hartung has so far provided his new club with exactly what they expected – speed and energy. The 23-year-old was immediately into the fray with the first scoring shot, a behind on the run from 40 metres. It wasn't Hartung's greatest day but he enjoyed a great moment when he snapped a neat goal to put North eight goals up in the second term.
