North Melbourne is on top of the ladder for the first time in more than 17 years after over-running the Fremantle Dockers at Etihad Stadium to win by 31 points.
In a match that looked like going either way after three quarters, the Kangaroos kicked eight of the last 10 goals to win 20.12 (132) to 14.17 (101).
Fremantle couldn't eradicate the turnovers that have been prominent in their opening rounds, with North Melbourne pouncing to stake its premiership claims in an open season.
The game turned late in the third quarter with Jarrad Waite kicking back-to-back goals to open up a seven-point lead at the last change.
The Kangaroos made sure Freo paid, kicking five straight goals to open the final term.
Midfielder Jack Ziebell (26 disposals) controlled the stoppages with eight clearances and pushed forward to kick three goals.
It was a better contest than the teams' respective records of 0-3 and 3-0 would have suggested, and it was played with finals-like intensity as Freo looked to keep their finals dreams alive.
Having fallen 25 points behind just 10 minutes into the match, they needed to fight their way back into the match, and they did so through former skipper Matthew Pavlich and star midfielder Nat Fyfe.
Both kicked two goals in the first half, and Pavlich, who finished with 18 possessions and 2.3, rotated through centre bounces at important times when the Freo Dockers needed to wrest back control.
"We thought we made some inroads tonight … we had some real moments," Lyon said.
"Our centre-square bounce work in [the] first 10 minutes was deplorable for whatever reason and then I thought the leadership of Pavlich and Fyfe and Johnson, our senior players really dug in.
"I think we gave pretty good effort tonight, not perfect, but that gives us a good foundation to improve."
Fyfe could not have done more under heavy attention from Ben Jacobs, kicking four goals, winning 27 possessions and seven clearances and laying seven tackles.
Freo were also well served by Lachie Neale (35 possessions and six tackles), while Hill (24 and six inside 50s) generated a lot of Fremantle's attacks.
MEDICAL ROOM
Fremantle star Nat Fyfe had his right hamstring worked on by the Dockers' trainers but ran the match out without incident. Already hurt by injuries to ruckman Aaron Sandilands, recruit Harley Bennell and captain David Mundy, Freo escaped unscathed. North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant needed attention from medical staff early for a left leg problem, but he was also cleared to play on, with the Kangaroos also injury free.
HBF Injury Update: Sandilands, Mundy and Bennell timeframes
NEXT UP
Fremantle returns home to host Carlton on Sunday before a challenging stretch against Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn. The Kangaroos travel to Metricon Stadium to face Gold Coast next Saturday.
