Australian Football

Match Report

North Melbourne took a strong grip on sixth place and assured itself of September action with a convincing win over the Western Bulldogs at Docklands stadium on Sunday. The Kangaroos controlled three quarters of the match, with the Bulldogs' only positive period a strong second term, in which the outscored North 4.6 to 3.0. But the Kangaroos bounced back with a strong opening to the second half and were never threatened from that point.

The Roos caught the Dogs on the hop early, and had four goals on the board inside the first 10 minutes. The Bulldogs arrested the momentum after that, keeping North to just one goal for the rest of the quarter but only managing one themselves. The second term was the Bulldogs strongest and, but for some inaccuracy and ill-discipline could have been much closer than the 14 points behind that they were at the long break. The Dogs kicked 4.6, missing several gettable shots, and had restricted North to just 2.0 for the term when a Jordan Roughead push gifted a greek kick to Drew Petrie, who converted to take the lead back out beyond two goals.

North Melbourne quickly snuffed out any hope the Bulldogs had with the first four goals of the third quarter to take the lead to 38 points as the term entered time-on. The Dogs kicked two late goals to reduce the deficit to 24 points at the last change but a four-goal last term to Ben Cunnington quickly took the game out of the Bulldogs' hands, and North went on to win by 50 points and book its place in September.

Captain Andrew Swallow led the Kangaroos from the front, with 11 tackles and 29 disposals, while Sam Gibson (31 possessions and seven marks) also played an outstanding game. For the Dogs, skipper Ryan Griffen played a fine 200th game, with 30 touches and five tackles, and youngster Marcus Bontempelli (eight tackles, 23 disposals) was again excellent.

North's final two home-and-away games will be against Adelaide and Melbourne. A win in either match will virtually guarantee the Roos a home final. The Dogs, on seven wins - one fewer than their total last year - will see out the season with home games against Sydney and GWS.

GOALS
North Melbourne: Cunnington 4; Black, Petrie, Brown 2; Thomas, Bastinac, Greenwood, Dal Santo, Gibson, Harvey, Goldstein
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Crameri 2; Boyd, Stevens, Dahlhaus, Cooney

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
North Melbourne: Swallow, Gibson, Harvey, Thompson, Grima, Cunnington
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Bontempelli, Cooney, Higgins, Murphy

BEST - THE AGE
North Melbourne: Swallow, Gibson, Thompson, Harvey, Cunnington, Brown, Bastinac, Wright, Goldstein
Western Bulldogs: Griffen, Bontempelli, Higgins, Murphy, Cooney, Hunter

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Lindsay Thomas (left knee), Jack Ziebell (right knee)
Western Bulldogs: Jack Macrae (soreness) replaced in selected side by Jarrad Grant, Shaun Higgins (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Leigh Adams replaced Jack Ziebell in the final term
Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa replaced Will Minson in the final term

UMPIRES: Stephens, Chamberlain, Kamolins

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Sandy Roberts, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley