A Jesse Hogan special has propelled Greater Western Sydney to a 39-point AFL win over North Melbourne.
Flaunting his strength on the ground and prowess in the air, Hogan spearheaded a potent GWS attack with six goals to help them storm to a 17.19 (121) to 13.4 (82) victory at Engie Stadium on Saturday.
Running without injured powerhouse midfielder Callan Ward, Tom Green was a beast in the corridor for the Giants, collecting a monster 37 touches, six clearances and a goal.
Giants co-captain Stephen Coniglio was just as influential in the midfield with 30 disposals, while Josh Kelly recorded 24 and two goals in his 200th game, against his childhood club.
Hogan's efforts were also backed by Jake Riccardi (three goals), Callum Brown (two) and Aaron Cadman (two).
"They've got a very young defence still learning the game and playing early in their career," GWS coach Adam Kingsley said of the Kangaroos.
"I felt like we were able to take advantage in that area of the game but we had to work for it, there's no question about that."
All-Australian defender Sam Taylor proved a mighty roadblock for the 'Roos attack with five contested marks and 12 intercept possessions.
With North captain Jy Simpkin ruled out with concussion, Nick Larkey shone as stand-in skipper with a haul of three goals, joined by draftee Zane Duursma, Paul Curtis and Jaidyn Stephenson who kicked two each.
Harry Sheezel (32 disposals) worked overtime in the guts alongside Luke Davies-Uniacke (29, eight clearances) and Tom Powell (26, six), while Tristan Xerri (19 hitouts, nine tackles, one goal) used his body well to outplay the Giants' Kieren Briggs in the ruck.
Cam Zurhaar, in his 100th appearance, was also among the 'Roos eight goal kickers with one major.
North Melbourne took time to find their legs in their first hit-out of the year while GWS ran rampant early with a 32-point drubbing of Collingwood already under their belts.
A Riccardi hat-trick set up a 15-point lead at quarter-time though debutant Duursma momentarily stole the show when he slotted his career-first goal to open the account for the visitors.
Larkey led the North charge in the second term, finding his goal-scoring boots to snatch two majors before Duursma added another to momentarily make it a one-goal game.
The 'orange tsunami' went full-throttle in the second half on the way to a game total of 145 contested possessions to 113, to put the result well out of doubt.
Up by 19 points after the main break, Hogan monstered Alistair Clarkson's charges with three goals in the third quarter to blow the margin to 37 points at three-quarter time.
"They just overpowered us in the air and were just a little bit stronger in the ground-level contests than us," Clarkson said.
"Their best six or eight players on the ground are all guys that have been playing AFL for 10 years so it's no surprise."
Matters were made worse when North Melbourne defender Josh Goater limped off the field with a right Achilles tendon rupture.
Unmarked in the Kangaroos' defensive 50, the 20-year-old pushed off to begin running before he fell to ground.
The Giants hit the road to take on competition strugglers West Coast next round, while North Melbourne host Fremantle for their first home game of the season.
