Staring down the barrel of three straight losses, the Kangaroos started and finished strongly and were good enough to overcome a mid-game fightback from the Blues.

The 9.5 (59) to 6.1 (37) result on Saturday night keeps North Melbourne in touch with the top six, while Carlton face an uphill battle to make the finals.

Jasmine Garner was heavily involved for the Kangaroos and topped the disposal count with 32, while captain Emma Kearney picked up 28 touches.

In a typically slow start, Carlton conceded two goals in two minutes and were scoreless in the first quarter but clawed their way back to lead 18-14 at halftime on the back of a pair of goals from Darcy Vescio.

But North Melbourne lifted their game in the all-important third quarter, holding Carlton scoreless and putting on 15 points.

They ran away with the match in the final term, with forward Sophie Abbatangelo nabbing two majors and Daisy Bateman picking up her second of the match.

In her first appearance in two years, former All-Australian Jessica Duffin came through unscathed and registered 11 disposals and five marks on a positive evening for the Kangaroos.

Australian Associated Press