NORTH Melbourne has broken through for its first win of the AFL season with a stirring comeback over fellow cellar-dwellers Hawthorn in Launceston.
The last-placed Kangaroos came from 32 points down on Saturday afternoon to snap a losing streak stretching back to Round 9 last season.
Cameron Zurhaar was inspirational in the 13.9 (87) to 12.8 (80) victory, slotting four goals including crucial majors either side of three-quarter time.
Hawthorn’s Luke Bruest set up a thrilling finish when he reduced the margin to six points with a running goal inside the final two minutes.
But the Kangaroos held on to give David Noble his maiden win as an AFL coach on his 54th birthday.
Jy Simpkin topped the possession count for the match with 33, while North Melbourne teammate Ben Cunnington was next best with 29.
After scoring the opening point of the match, it took until the beginning of the fourth quarter for North Melbourne to regain the lead.
The lead changed hands twice during the final term, with Tasmanian Tarryn Thomas notching a crucial major for the Kangaroos to open up an 11-point lead with seven minutes to play.
It was a remarkable turnaround after a red hot start by Hawthorn which was spearheaded by Chad Wingard, who kicked two majors from tight angles and had two goal assists in the opening quarter.
Hawthorn opened up a 33-7 point lead at quarter time and were ahead 54-32 at the main break.
The Kangaroos, who found themselves behind by 32 early in the second quarter, mounted a third-term surge, booting four goals to one.
They entered the final term just a point behind after a Zurhaar snap moments before the break.
Taylor Garner was another shining light for the Kangaroos, picking up three goals.
(C) AAP 2021
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 5.2 9.7 13.9 (87)
HAWTHORN 5.3 8.6 9.8 12.8 (80)
Goals: North Melbourne: C Zurhaar 4 T Garner 3 C Taylor J Mahony L Davies- Uniacke N Larkey T Goldstein T Thomas. Hawthorn: C Wingard 2 J Cousins 2 J Koschitzke 2 L Breust 2 D Moore J Scrimshaw L Shiels M Lewis.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Nick Brown, Paul Rebeschini.
Official Crowd: 9,121 at University of Tasmania Stadium.
