1. Two straight, but Roos unconvincing
Much has been made of North Melbourne's dismal record fronting up the week after a win – conceding, on average, nearly 110 points. That was always unlikely against the low-scoring Bombers but – for a team which is supposedly going to climb the ladder on the run home – the Roos still have plenty of work to do. Brad Scott's men played uninspiring football in the opening half, kicking just five goals against a young and inexperienced Dons outfit. They showed glimpses of their best in the third term, doubling their score to set up consecutive wins for only the second time this year, but there's still little to suggest last year's preliminary finalists will impact September in 2015. 

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2. Goldstein monsters McKernan
Roos fans must shudder to think where their side would be this year without Todd Goldstein, who must have been rubbing his hands together at the prospect of taking on part-timer Shaun McKernan on Friday night. McKernan has been competitive for Essendon, but was taught a lesson in ruck craft and positioning from the get-go by Goldstein, who racked up 10 touches and 12 hit-outs in the first term alone. The Bombers simply had no answers for Goldstein, who finished with 27 disposals, 55 hit-outs, six marks, 1.2 and seven free kicks to his name – and, surely, the three Brownlow Medal votes.

3. 'Sideshow Bob' takes centre stage
With Drew Petrie sidelined, North needed another key forward to stand up. Big-name forward Jarrad Waite was well held, but shaggy-haired big man Ben Brown lifted the flat Roos to a crucial win. Brown inspired his teammates with his strong marking – clunking a towering mark of the week contender in the first term – and accurate 4.1 return, helping the Kangas to get ahead of the win-loss ledger for just the second time this year at 8-7. Petrie returns next week against the Brisbane Lions, and with North then facing games against Carlton, Melbourne and St Kilda in the month ahead, the Roos can put their foot down.

4. Bombers hopes rest on Joe's shoulders
James Hird has backed Joe Daniher to be the AFL's best set shot within 18 months and, if that becomes the case, the Bombers' revival might come quicker than expected. He's only 21, but so much already rests on the emerging superstar's shoulders. Daniher has booted 17.4 from 23 shots on goal in the Bombers' five wins, however those figures plummet to 12.15 from 31 shots in losses. Daniher looked confident on Friday night, marking strongly on the wings and – despite missing his first two shots, including a bungled snap in the goalsquare – had 2.2 at the main break. Daniher went scoreless in the second half, his performance symptomatic of the Dons as they failed to kick more than 11 goals for the seventh straight game.

5. Black's blues
North Melbourne couldn't get a pen in Aaron Black's hand to sign a three-year contract extension quick enough after his breakout 2013 season, but the 24-year-old has become a shell of the player he once was. A shoulder injury hampered him last season, but the key forward has failed to recapture anything like his best. Friday night was just Black's second senior game this year, earning himself a recall after booting three goals in the VFL and thanks to Petrie's suspension. But he showed none of the urgency you might expect. While Brown flew at marks and impacted contests, Black struggled to exert any influence apart from a fortunate scrubbed goal from 50 metres in the second term. Fremantle is rumoured to be interested in Black. The plot thickens.