NORTH Melbourne might have played the best football of coach Brad Scott's 100-game tenure in a sensational eight-goal third term against Richmond on Sunday night.

Coming from 35 points down after an abject four-goal first half, the Kangaroos overhauled the Tigers in 19 stunning minutes from the start of the third quarter.

Battered by the ferocious Tigers and licking their wounds after being outscored seven goals to one in the second term, a momentum swing of that magnitude was beyond even Scott's expectations as the Roos regrouped.

But with inconsistent North's credibility on the line, the Roos' leaders stepped up.

For 373 games Brent Harvey has been the heart-and-soul of the Kangaroos and it was the veteran who kickstarted the fightback.

Dragged down in a one-on-one at the top of the goal-square by Bachar Houli, Harvey made no mistake with his set shot.

That was at the three-minute mark. 

What followed was an avalanche to the Lockett End.

A laser pass from Jack Ziebell hit Drew Petrie lace-out for his first goal two minutes later, then Ryan Bastinac dribbled through shortly afterwards.

Both Petrie and Ziebell marked and goaled before Robin Nahas exacted revenge on his former club.

Delisted at the end of last year, Nahas gathered Harvey's squirted handball and got Etihad Stadium rocking as he put the Roos in front.

He wheeled away with arms outstretched as the North faithful leapt to their feet.

In the space of 15 minutes North had overturned the deficit, but they weren't done yet.

Ben Cunnington benefited from the advantage rule after a free kick to Nahas before Petrie nailed his third of the quarter at the 19-minute mark.

It was breathtaking football and even the coach was amazed.

"They exceeded my expectations in the third quarter so I won't be putting any ceiling on what we can do in a quarter of footy anymore," Scott said post-match.

Asked if it was the best North had played under him, he replied: "It'd be close. It's no secret that when we're playing well Drew Petrie's one of the dominant players on the ground."

The win lifted Scott's win-loss ratio to 52 wins and 48 losses at North Melbourne, while the Roos are now seventh on the ladder with a 7-4 record.