The Magpies "put a hole in North" in the first-half, before eventually finishing the Kangaroos off in the final quarter at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
"It was [our most complete performance]," Magpie coach Nathan Buckley said after the game.
"North have played really good footy over the last few weeks… I rate them as a side, they were up and about, and we were able to blunt them pretty early which was important."
The Magpies' exceptional tackling pressure (64-49), along with their desire to charge back, help, and outnumber in defence was a contrast in both clubs' game.
Collingwood was able to sustain the pressure, North Melbourne could not.
"We probably forced North Melbourne to go faster than they have the last couple of weeks," Buckley said.
"Our pressure on them was pretty good, but we're constantly working on the ability to pressure at the source and provide real structure out the back (of the contest). I think that's where the Fremantle's of the world have been exceptional over the last couple of years.
"We feel like we're building our defensive capabilities, we're a work in progress, but we're sharpening up every week."
Not only was Collingwood’s defensive game on-point, but two of their key players began to find some much-needed form as well.
Dane Swan collected the ball 35 times and exhibited the two-way running Buckley demands of his players, while Travis Cloke took the game away from the Kangaroos with an unstoppable first-half performance.
The Magpie spearhead finished with four goals and 11 marks (six contested), a far-cry from the sort of output that yielded him just two goals from the first four weeks of the season.
"There's a lot of focus on him, but he's just one member of our team," Buckley said.
"We expect the same effort and attitude and competiveness, as we do from every one of our players, and he brought it in spades today."
Following Buckley's press conference on Saturday evening, the Magpies' coaching staff were making the dash across town to Etihad Stadium to have a "close look" at Essendon in action against St Kilda.
"The tests are going to keep coming. They're moving the ball as well as any and really Essendon's willingness to go fast will be a challenge for us," Buckley said.
"They've got a lot of run, they're very slick with the ball. But at the same time they've got some real good hard nuts in and under and some legitimate stars through the midfield."
With Nathan Brown available for selection, after playing well in the VFL on Saturday, and Ben Reid to resume "footy work" next week, the Magpies are going to face some selection quandaries.
"Yep, we're going to have competition for spots and if guys keep performing at the top level, when they get their opportunities it's going to be a continual challenge for us to keep picking the best side," Buckley said.
"We are a playing list that are very aware that when they're called upon, they're prepared to play their role for the team and at different stages there's going to be a different mix that we're going to need."
