The reward for North Melbourne's victory over bottom-placed Melbourne at the MCG outweighed their performance, but coach Dean Laidley was happy to accept it.

After the three teams who started the round directly above them - Collingwood, Brisbane and St Kilda - all suffered upset losses, the 14.14 (98) to 10.10 (70) win catapulted the 'Roos to fifth spot.

Laidley admitted the style of the victory, aside from a seven goals to one first quarter, was less than spectacular.

But given his side would have dropped to 10th had they lost, he was content to bank the points.

"Looking at the results over the weekend, no injuries and four points, I think it's probably critical at this stage of the year," Laidley said.

"I thought our first quarter was pretty good, then they wanted to throw a heap of numbers behind the footy.

"We were holding our line, they were holding their line and that's what you get, ugly footy, when those sort of things happen."

The coach said the costly results for other teams around the same mark as the 'Roos reinforced the need for to focus on their opponents, rather than speculate about potential ladder positions.

"Everyone wants to talk about, particularly the media, about what's going to happen (on the ladder) and that's their job," Laidley said.

"Our job is to make sure that we're concentrating on every kick, mark, handball, contest, because if you don't and you take your eye off the ball for one second, as we've seen over the weekend for lots of different reasons, that the results can go any way."

Speedy midfielder Brent Harvey again played a crucial hand for the winners and did his growing Brownlow chances no harm, with his ability to find the ball and create space, as well as chipping in two goals.

Corey Jones regained form with a four-goal game, including three in a six-minute burst in the first quarter which helped set up the win.

Small forward Lindsay Thomas also played a fine hand, with five goals, including his team's only three majors of the final term, to ensure a threatening Demons' comeback never eventuated.

The Demons lifted after trailing by 38 points at half-time, cutting the deficit to 31 at the last change, then kicking three of the first four goals of the final quarter to move within 19 points eight minutes in.

They were still within 22 points 19 minutes into the quarter, before youngster Simon Buckley attempted to play on from a kick-out, but was dragged down by David Hale, setting up Thomas for the sealer.

Big man Paul Johnson put in a strong performance for Melbourne, both in stints in the ruck and up forward, with his foot skills a highlight, while Buckley was also good with a hard-running game through the midfield.

But coach Dean Bailey conceded it was always going to be tough to threaten the 'Roos after their slow start.

"Seven goals to one at quarter time was really ordinary, but (North) were pretty good, they moved the ball really well," Bailey said.

"Again, it was some of our poor decision-making and their counterattack at really good speed, Corey Jones was pretty effective in the first quarter, he was kicking them from anywhere.

"But we started off poorly and from then on it was catch-up for the rest of the game."

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