IT WAS a statement game and Hawthorn reminded North Melbourne it is still a force, with the reigning premiers weathering the Kangaroos' fierce aggression before clinching a nine-point thriller on Friday night. 

As they so often do, the Hawks survived a close encounter, and for the second time this season, Paul Puopolo had ice running through his veins as he slotted a clutch goal in the dying seconds to ensure the Hawks' fourth win for the year by single figures.

After catching Jamie Macmillan holding the ball with 36 seconds left, Puopolo coolly went back and his set shot never looked like missing as Hawks fans erupted to celebrate yet another win over North, their eighth in the past 10 games.

Five talking points: North Melbourne v Hawthorn

Despite dominating large swathes of the match, the Roos were left lamenting a woefully inaccurate night in front of goal, going down 14.9 (93) to 11.18 (84) at Etihad Stadium.

Undermanned but refusing to use that as an excuse, North threw everything at the contest, coming out clearly intent on responding to last season's humiliating 60-point belting from Hawthorn.

A see-sawing encounter saw eight lead changes, but the wily Hawks were never headed from the 22-minute mark of the third term, with blossoming forward James Sicily's career-best five-goal haul proving the difference.

Although the Hawks are still struggling to find top gear, their ominous climb up the ladder now has the three-time defending champions positioned in second spot with a 10-3 record, perfectly poised for another flag assault.

However, North Melbourne's (10-3) stranglehold on top spot – which the Roos have held since round four – is in serious jeopardy after a third loss in four games against a flag rival.

In none of those games have the Roos been overawed, however the big-game experience of Hawthorn was telling in the dying stages and during a ferocious opening on Friday night.

Spotfires flared across the ground during the first half, with every disposal hard-earned under intense physical pressure.

The Roos clearly hadn't forgotten brutal hits unleashed by Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis in round five last season, with a push and shove breaking out in the Hawks' forward line before the first bounce.

"We knew it was coming," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said post-match. 

"It was talked about all week. Every question that was fired in my direction and North Melbourne’s direction was all about the physicality of the game so [the message to the players] was more about embracing it and absorbing it.

"It was fantastic for our players to experience that, and you don’t usually experience that type of physical endeavour from both sides until later in the year.

"It was fantastic for our guys to experience that now, cope with it and find a way to win."

It didn't take long for tempers to reach boiling point.

Leading the Roos for the first time in Andrew Swallow's absence, Jack Ziebell slammed into Sam Mitchell with a late bump as he ran back with the flight, sparking a melee as the Hawks charged forward and drew first blood through Isaac Smith.

While the Roos midfielder will most likely have a case to answer with the Match Review Panel this week, the touchpaper was lit for a fierce battle, just the way ZIebell likes it.

He was in everything early, leading the way with his aggression and driving home a team-lifting 50m bomb as North dominated the opening exchanges.

The Roos should've led by more than 15 points at the first change after repeated 50m entries (20-8) and extreme pressure shook Hawthorn's experienced backline.

But the Hawks responded after the break, with an angry Cyril Rioli sparking the fightback.

SHOWREEL: Unsociable football

After being targeted, perhaps unwisely, by instigator Michael Firrito following the quarter-time siren, Rioli came to life and snared two second-term majors as the Hawks briefly hit the front.

Although young defender Luke McDonald's brilliant chase on the Hawks superstar prevented Rioli's third goal, it cost the 50th gamer, with McDonald pinging a hamstring with his effort and ending his night early.

Suddenly, though, momentum was with the brown and gold, and the wasteful Roos hurt their cause in front of goal, booting seven straight behinds before Lindsay Thomas somehow floated through a steadier off a step from deep in the pocket.

Although North held a slender two-point lead heading into the rooms at half-time, the Hawks were starting to gain the ascendancy.

A five-goal-to-three third term gave Alastair Clarkson's men a handy seven-point buffer at the final break and they held on.

Tellingly, it was the Hawks' experienced heads who rose to the challenge.

Jordan Lewis (31 disposals, one goal) was superb in the heat of battle, while Sam Mitchell (27) overcame Trent Dumont's attention and Taylor Duryea put the clamps on Brent Harvey (13, one goal).

Hawthorn's leading goalkicker Jack Gunston went goalless and was blanketed brilliantly by All Australian chance Robbie Tarrant, but Sicily stepped up when it counted.

Daniel Wells continued his resurgence for the Roos, finishing with 30 touches and nine clearances, while Lindsay Thomas and Drew Petrie booted three goals each – including one each in the frantic final term, but it wasn't enough for the Roos to avoid a bitter loss. 

"It was disappointing, we gave ourselves enough opportunity and Hawthorn took theirs," Brad Scott said.

"I couldn't fault the effort, the execution of the plan was good. It was a really disappointing night for us.

"Because I think generally you get what you deserve in AFL footy and tonight feels pretty close to not quite getting what we deserve."

MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Luke McDonald has strained a hamstring after his superb chase-down tackle on Cyril Rioli in the second quarter, while Daniel Wells hurt his ankle but came back on after some attention in the third term. 
Hawthorn: The Hawks appear to have emerged unscathed.

NEXT UP
It doesn't get any easier for North Melbourne, with the Roos facing another six-day break before taking on the red-hot and rested Crows in Adelaide on Thursday night. Hawthorn's next assignment seems relatively straightforward in comparison, albeit against an improving Gold Coast outfit at Launceston on Sunday. 



NORTH MELBOURNE   3.5      4.11      7.15     11.18   (84)
HAWTHORN                 1.2      5.3      10.4       14.9   (93)                      

GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Petrie 3, Wood 2, Brown, Harvey, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily 5, Rioli 2, Hartung 2, O'Brien, Breust, Smith, Lewis, Puopolo

BEST 
North Melbourne: Wells, Tarrant, Dal Santo, Wood, Atley, Ziebell
Hawthorn: Sicily, Mitchell, Duryea, Lewis, Rioli, Birchall

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: McDonald (hamstring), Wells (ankle)
Hawthorn: Nil 

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Ryan, Fleer

Official crowd: 37, 073 at Etihad Stadium

It was on for young and old on Friday night, though mainly old in this instance. Picture: AFL Media