NORTH Melbourne has held off the Western Bulldogs and maintained top billing with an engrossing 16-point win in Friday night's top-of-the-table clash at Etihad Stadium. 

In a combative and defensive slog that will leave both teams bruised, the Kangaroos went 6-0 for the first time since 1979, winning 9.7 (61) to 6.9 (45) in front of a record crowd of 47,622.

North led from the 15-minute mark of the first quarter to the final siren and fended off multiple runs from the brave Bulldogs, who didn't have the finishing class to bridge the narrow gap that existed for most of the night.

It was another feather in the cap for the Kangaroos, who are mounting their case for a 2016 premiership and have a genuine scalp to their name ahead of clashes against St Kilda and Essendon.

Perhaps most pleasing for coach Brad Scott was the defensive manner in which they won, kicking their lowest score for the season but holding the Bulldogs to just six goals.

The low scoring was not an indication of the contest's quality, with both teams pushed to the limit in their first top-of-the-table clash against each other since 1998.

Key forward Jarrad Waite, who is now equal leader for the Coleman Medal with 22 goals, continued to play a clutch role in the Roos' perfect start, kicked four goals, including the sealer halfway through the fourth quarter. 

Midfielder Daniel Wells wound back the clock and was a star with 27 possessions, five clearances and six tackles, while Andrew Swallow 23 and eight clearances) and Jack Ziebell (18 and six) stood up at big moments. 

Defender Scott Thompson played a critical role, holding Bulldogs star Jake Stringer to just two marks and 0.2, and winning 26 possessions and five rebound 50s himself.

The Roos won despite forward Kayne Turner suffering a hamstring injury early in the second quarter, while midfielder Sam Wright played through an ankle problem. 

Played at a frenetic pace in the opening 10 minutes, both teams looked up for an attacking shootout, but the Bulldogs started to lose their cool with the ball and their scoring quickly dried up. 

The only thing keeping the Bulldogs in the game was desperate tackling and a contested ball advantage that meant the Kangaroos had to work hard for their 12-point lead at half time.

Midfielder Lachie Hunter racked up a massive 24 possessions in the first half and finished with 44, four clearances and six rebound 50s to be the Bulldogs' best player.  

Luke Beveridge's men, who lost no friends with their endeavour, won the contested possessions (166-151), clearances (44-31) and inside 50s (56-46). 

With three of their best ball-users out of the team, however, their class going into attack was poor and they will need to regroup before meeting Adelaide at Etihad Stadium next week.