The win over the Roos yielded plenty of interesting facts and figures ...

* Collingwood's much-improved attacking prowess was on show against North Melbourne, with the Pies booting 20.10 (130), their third-highest score of the season. Yet, if you look at the season as a whole, it's Collingwood's defensive work that has improved the most. The Pies have scored an average of 94 points per game, up from 88 last season. The difference is much greater when you look at points against. Collingwood conceded an average of 89 points per game in 2017. This year that number is 77. 

Jeremy Howe has played a key role in Collingwood's backline this season (AFL Photos)

* Pies youngster Sam Murray made the most of his elevation back into the AFL team after a stint in the VFL, gathering an equal-career-high 24 disposals. And he used the ball well, recording a disposal efficiency of 79.2 per cent. Will it be enough for him to hold his place in the side for this weekend's blockbuster clash with Richmond?

* When it comes to disposal efficiency, Collingwood players recorded some outstanding numbers against the Roos. Here are the best of them: Matt Scharenberg (16 disposals at 100 per cent), Tom Langdon (16 disposals at 93.8 per cent), Brayden Sier (13 disposals at 92.3 per cent) and Scott Pendlebury (30 disposals at 86.7 per cent).

* Collingwood's victory over North Melbourne continued the Pies' long-time dominance in its head-to-head record against the Kangaroos. Since North's first season in the VFL in 1925, the teams have played 160 times, with Collingwood winning 107 of those games. Indeed, if you go right back to those early years you find that the Magpies won 22 of their first 23 games against the boys from Arden Street.