North Melbourne have underlined their premiership credentials with Ash Riddell and Kate Shierlaw starring in a 50-point blitzing of Melbourne.
After slipping to a draw against Geelong at Arden Street, the Kangaroos headed to Casey Fields on Sunday with a point to prove - and a run of four unanswered second-term goals was the difference.
Riddell was extraordinary, racking up 32 disposals, two goals and 10 tackles, while Shierlaw kicked a career-high five goals and clunked six marks to lead the Kangaroos to a 11.5 (71) to 3.3 (21) victory.
It was the most points Melbourne have ever conceded in a game.
"Even though we got the draw last week ... there was just a feeling among the group we didn't put our best performance out there," Kangaroos coach Darren Crocker said.
"The week was really good, really strong and to come out and get a response like that against a quality opposition is really encouraging.
"Kate was fantastic. It wasn't just inside forward-50 where she kicked five goals straight, I thought she connected us really well across the ground too."
Jasmine Garner (27 disposals), Jenna Bruton (15 disposals, two goals), Mia King (23 touches) and Emma Kearney were all influential.
It was another statement from the Kangaroos (2-1-0), who beat premiers Brisbane in round one and will sit comfortably in the top four at round's end.
The Kangaroos will hope defender and former Demon Libby Birch has avoided a collarbone issue after she was crunched in a Kate Hore tackle in the third quarter.
Birch played down any concerns in a Network Seven interview post-match.
In her 75th game, Melbourne stalwart Paxy Paxman (19 touches) was superb, with support from Lily Mithen (18 disposals) and Eliza McNamara (22 touches).
But Melbourne (1-2), who are without Olivia Purcell, Tayla Harris and Lauren Pearce through injury, slipped to 14th.
Scores were level at quarter-time but North kicked things up a gear to take a 24-point lead into the main break.
They kept Melbourne goalless in the third term as Shierlaw kicked two more goals to build an unassailable 36-point lead at the final change.
It turned into party time from there, leaving Melbourne coach Mick Stinear to lament the Demons' turnovers and failure to go toe-to-toe with North around contests and clearances.
"There was plenty to learn for us today and a bit of a gift early on in the season about where we need to get to to be the benchmark of the competition, having Geelong, Brisbane and now North," he said.
"We feel like we'll get a lot out of today and we've still got a big part of the season to build and evolve."
North next face Port Adelaide at Whitten Oval on Friday, and Melbourne travel to play Fremantle on Saturday.
