Leigh Adams' AFL coaching debut was a successful one as he led North Melbourne to a stunning four-point upset of Richmond.

North Melbourne's Leigh Adams has celebrated his greatest moment in football after adding his name to the list of caretaker coaches to win on their AFL coaching debut.

The 34-year-old took the reins when David Noble was sacked this week and steered the last-placed Kangaroos to a stunning four-point upset of premiership hopefuls Richmond on Saturday.

The scenario was eerily similar to North's first game under Rhyce Shaw in 2019, when they upset the flag-bound Tigers immediately following Brad Scott's exit.

"It's been a whirlwind week," Adams said.

"I started work on Monday as a development coach getting ready to coach the VFL team and by the end of the week I'm sitting here after a great win.

"I actually don't know what to think at the moment.

"It's been a really busy, enjoyable week that's finished off really well."

North Melbourne had lost 14 straight matches before Noble was axed, sitting last with a 1-15 record and a dismal percentage of 51.7.

Adams simplified their attacking game plan and implored his players to express themselves by taking the game on.

It led to their highest score of the season, with Cam Zurhaar kicking six goals in the 14.8 (92) to 11.22 (88) victory.

North led by 32 points at halftime and fell behind in the final term before rallying again, and Zurhaar booted the match-winner in the dying stages.

"When the game was on the line and we needed all our boys to play a role we seemed to have blokes turn up in the right spot and do the right thing at the right time," Adams said.

"It allowed us to stay in the game because realistically they dominated really big periods of the game and we could've got scored against really heavily.

"They missed a few goals, they were inaccurate, but they ability of our boys to fight and scrap ... I was really impressed with."

A courageous midfielder, Adams played 104 games for North Melbourne before his premature retirement in 2015 because of concussion issues.

He began his coaching journey at suburban South Croydon, winning an Eastern Football League premiership, and spent two years in charge of VFL club Coburg before returning to the Kangaroos as a development coach.

The win over Richmond now sits at he top of his highlights list.

"That's by far better than any playing moment that I've had," Adams said.

"I always said coaching the South Croydon flag was right up there, but sorry South Croydon boys, this might've gone past it."