Essendon’s mid-season surge has continued with a 17-point win over North Melbourne in an entertaining AFL contest at Etihad Stadium.

John Worsfold’s side led by a game-high 32 points early in the third quarter on Sunday before holding off a late challenge to record a 19.11 (125) to 16.12 (108) win, their fifth victory in their past six matches.

A high-scoring shootout in the first half settled into a more-typical defensive contest in the second, with a seven-goal blitz by Essendon proving the difference.

Orazio Fantasia and Shaun McKernan were the Bombers’ main weapons with four goals apiece, while Mason Wood booted three majors for the Roos.

Dyson Heppell (34 possessions) and Zach Merrett (32) were huge for Essendon with Merrett finishing with 12 clearances.

Shaun Higgins continued a run of fine form for North with 31 possessions and Todd Goldstein won the ruck battle with 44 hitouts.

Wood kicked two goals in the opening minutes as the Kangaroos raced to a 20-point lead but Fantasia added two of his three first-quarter goals in an unanswered burst of four majors.

Ben Cunnington became the third multiple goal-scorer for the term when he added his second to help North to a six-point lead at the first break.

But after 12 possessions in the first quarter, Cunnington managed just one kick in the second as his team fell off the pace.

Brendon Goddard and Merrett were instrumental in a Bombers blitz punctuated by three goals to McKernan and a couple to Jake Stringer.

Leading by 20 points as the second half got underway in front of 45,580 fans, the Bombers took their string of unanswered goals to seven with the first two of the third quarter.

Worsfold’s side had won just one third term all season before Sunday and, almost inevitably, they stumbled.

North onballer Paul Ahern kicked his first goal in AFL football four years after he was a top-10 pick for GWS as the Roos pulled the deficit back to 12 points at three-quarter time.

Wood missed a set shot from well inside 50 to make it a nine-point game with just more than four minutes remaining and a quick reply from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti sealed the win for the Dons.

Essendon face Collingwood at the MCG in round 16, while North will host Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium.