NORTH Melbourne has made Brent Harvey’s 250th match a memorable one with the Kangaroos recording a thrilling three-point win over the previously undefeated Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

The match was in the balance all day, but Brad Johnson had the chance to win it for the Dogs when he marked the ball on a slight angle 40m out from goal just one second before the final siren.

His set shot sailed wide, however, sending Kangaroos’ fans into a frenzy.

Harvey battled Mathew Boyd for most of the match and finished with 15 possessions and two goals in his milestone after being dazed by a knock to the head in the first quarter.

Brady Rawlings was outstanding with 27 touches as was Adam Simpson (27), while Hamish McIntosh (22 disposals and 18 hitouts) had the better of the ruck duel with Ben Hudson.

Nathan Thompson was a constant threat up forward and finished with four goals, while Drew Petrie started in defence, but did well to boot three majors when sent forward.

Adam Cooney led the Dogs with 33 possessions with Boyd (30) and Daniel Cross (25) also prominent, while Jason Akermanis booted four goals.

The win was even more praiseworthy considering the Roos were down a man for much of the second half with Daniel Wells limping off with a knee injury 12 minutes into the third quarter.

Despite the big occasion it was the Dogs who started better with Akermanis booting two goals to help his side out to a 19-point lead midway through the opening term.

His first resulted from an unintentional shepherd applied by umpire Matthew Nicholls on McIntosh which caused a turnover, but the Kangaroos’ luck turned for the better as the quarter wore on.

Harvey did well to clear his head and return to the field and he played an important part in the Roo resurgence. His brilliant running goal was the highlight of a four-goal burst that saw his side take the lead for the first time.

Nathan Thompson’s first after some nice work by youngster Matt Riggio put North Melbourne six points up late in the term, but Johnson sent the teams into the first break on even terms.

The second quarter opened in much the same fashion as the first with the Bulldogs firing early, but the Roos didn’t help their cause with some poor kicking for goal.

Three shots went astray while the Dogs banged through four goals from as many attempts to bound away once again.

Thompson stopped the run with his second from arguably the most difficult of his side’s scoring opportunities and a 50m penalty allowed Petrie to convert, but the Bullies mounted a late charge to go into half-time with a handy four-goal lead.  

The intensity of both sides lifted in the third term and Leigh Harding and Petrie gave the Roos just the start they were after with a goal each inside two minutes.

Thompson continued to prove a handful for Brian Lake with two goals while Daniel Harris thrilled North supporters with his spectacular long-range effort pressed hard against the boundary line.

The Kangaroos started the final term 11 points in arrears, but would not be denied.

Harvey gave his side the lead early in the quarter before majors to Ed Lower and Petrie set the scene for the stunning climax.

Western Bulldogs       5.3   11.7   14.10    16.14  (110)
North Melbourne            5.3   7.7   12.11   16.17  (113)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs:  Akermanis 4, Murphy 3, Johnson 3, Minson 2, Welsh, Gilbee, Hahn, Cooney.
North Melbourne: N Thompson 4, Petrie 3, Jones 2, Harris, Lower, Campbell, Rawlings, Harding, Harvey, McIntosh.

BEST
Western Bulldogs:  Cooney, Akermanis, Boyd, Cross, Murphy, Griffen, Johnson.
North Melbourne: Rawlings, McIntosh, Simpson, Thompson, Petrie, Harvey, Grant.

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: None
North Melbourne: Wells (knee)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, Ryan

Official crowd: 35,471 at Telstra Dome