Shaun Higgins and Lindsay Thomas have led North Melbourne to a 35-point AFL win after a big scare from Melbourne.

Higgins and Thomas kicked two goals apiece in a seven-goal last quarter on Sunday at the MCG as the Kangaroos pulled away for the 19.13 (127) to 14.8 (92) win.

The Demons drew to within two points late in the third term and were only eight points behind early in the last quarter.

But North were never headed in a pulsating match and their five-game winning streak means they have replaced Richmond in sixth on the ladder.

Higgins was best afield with 31 disposals, while Thomas kicked five goals.

Melbourne’s rising star Jesse Hogan kicked four goals in another impressive performance and Chris Dawes kicked four.

While North kicked clear in the last term, the Demons were far from disgraced.

North were outstanding in the first term, controlling the centre clearances 8-1 and putting Melbourne’s defence under relentless pressure.

With Ben Jacobs blanketing Nathan Jones, the Kangaroos kicked five of the first six goals and were up by 34 at the first break.

North’s 7.4 was their best first quarter this season.

Dawes led the Melbourne counter punch, kicking the first two goals of the second quarter to keep them in the game.

North threatened to break the game open again with two goals that extended the lead to 33, but the Demons were coming.

As they lifted in the midfield, Melbourne took the game up to the Kangaroos in a hard-fought second term and only trailed by three goals at the main break.

Twice, Melbourne were only two points down in the third quarter and North were wobbly.

But Melbourne fluffed a couple of kickouts late in the third quarter and North made them pay.

A goal to Jarrad Waite and another on the siren to Ben Brown kept the Demons’ challenge at arms length and the ‘Roos had a 10-point break going into the last quarter.