AFL round three North Melbourne vs Carlton, Fremantle vs Adelaide ...

The sub gets on the board with a late goal, slotting a tight set shot from the pocket.

The heat has come out of the game a little now, which is to be expected. The margin is out to 56 points and Carlton are threatening to break through the 150 barrier.

Looked like he rolled an ankle, and the doctors have the right boot off straight away. Doesn't look anything too concerning, maybe just need a bit of a restrapping.

The round two Rising Star nominee chopped off an audacious inside kick and had the run in his legs to take to 35 out. He overcame a case of the speed wobbles to slot the goal home.

Incredibly promising player for North Melbourne.

And that is 20 goals up for the Blues today.

His brother Oli was one of the first to get to Elijah to celebrate with him. I reckon the Hollands boys are going to play quite a few Carlton games together.

He takes the lead in his battle with Charlie, who dropped a sitter in front of goal just moments before this. Larkey gave the free kick away from the ruck contest, and McKay went around the corner to snap it home.

Lead is out to 50 points now.

The skipper sneaks it though! De Koning nearly pulled down the mark in the goalsquare, but Cripps was really clever after taking the crumb to delay his snap until he could work it through all the North Melbourne bodies.

They're checking to see if it was touched, but Sheezel's reaction — thumping the ground in disgust — suggests he did not get anything on it.

It was friendly fire, with a teammate landing on Marchbank's head after they collided in a contest. Teammates were instantly concerned, but Marchbank has been able to walk off the field himself.

I imagine that will be his game done though. Which will frustrate Carlton, as they have only just subbed Corey Durdin out for Orazio Fantasia.

Harry Sheezel's teammates get around him, because it was his hurried turnover on the wing that sent a sea of Blues rushing towards goals, ending with Owies snapping from the top of the square.

Not one Sheezel will want to see back.

Carlton have them at arm's length. Through this whole game it's felt like the Blues have been five minutes away from blowing the lead out completely, only for North to kick a goal or two to keep things respectable.

I don't think they can kick six goals to none to win the game from here, but I do think North Melbourne could chip into this lead a little bit further. And if they manage to do that, in a game where they've been outmatched and outplayed, that might say something about the group.

In saying that, both Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay look absolutely starving for goals out there so things could yet go the other way.

George Wardlaw has been off the field with an ankle problem for most of this quarter, but finally returned and had energy to burn. He nailed Kennedy in the tackle from behind, and his subsequent kick to the hot spot found Ford in space.

It's only 35 points. I'm not saying anything.

The margin is stuck at around about that 40 mark, because North are chipping away with the odd goal on counter-attack. Stephens took a second to weigh up his options deep in the pocket and made the right call, squeezing a pass to Ford.

It's been an undisciplined day for North Melbourne. Nick Larkey got nailed by a crunching Mitch McGovern tackle in the forward pocket, and Larkey wasn't happy about it. He slung McGovern to ground, giving away a 50m penalty and sparking a brawl.

While that went on, Carlton took the ball forward, forced a crumb and watched Matt Owies snap through a beauty on the run. The Kangaroos are willing, but they've been their own worst enemies.

Better ball movement from North Melbourne, who took on the corridor and found Nick Larkey in just enough space forward of the ball.

You can put Larkey's set shots in the book.

Looks like we've got a game within the game here as Curnow and McKay battle it out for the biggest bag.

Cripps is having an excellent quarter too. He stuck Simpkin in the tackle, bounced back up to win the ball and sent Cerra on his way. McKay led out strongly to take the chest mark, and the set shots are a formality at the minute.

It's back out to 40 points in the blink of an eye, and Carlton are running up a serious score now.

Cripps burst through the middle and found a leading Curnow just a little too far out to score. He tried to set up his mate Harry, but when he crashed to earth and spilled the mark Owies was ready to pick up the pieces.

Curnow edges ahead of Harry McKay with his fourth of the day.

He took a strong mark inside 50 and was headed back to prepare for the shot, only for the umpire to spot George Wardlaw strolling across the mark. Correct call, another blow for North Melbourne.

It won't shock you to learn it came from a free kick conceded by Aidan Corr. A little too much grappling from Corr on Charlie Curnow, and the umpires haven't been letting those go today.

Curnow bangs home another, and the Roos' defence continues to battle.

Mitch McGovern has just laced Tom Powell out from a kick in like he ws trying to pass to Harry McKay. Powell didn't break stride as he marked and ran on in to goal.

A freebie for North, and the margin is only 22 points. Do the Roos believe?