Australian Football

Match Report

North Melbourne has climbed up to sixth on the ladder after the Kangaroos saw off a spirited Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. The Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks and by quarter time, leading by 34 points looked as though they might be on target to record a 100-point thrashing. But the Demons bounced back in the second term to gradually cut the deficit before threatening to take the lead several times in the third and final quarters before North settled and pulled away to win by 35 points. 

The Kangaroos were on song from the opening bounce and had two goals on the board in the first five minutes through Lindsay Thomas and Robin Nahas. Chris Dawes responded with a goal after a free kick but North kicked the next three via Ben Brown, Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie to jump to a 27-point lead. Young Jesse Hogan pulled one back for Melbourne but Ben Jacobs and Thomas closed out the term with majors that put the Roos 34 points clear at the first break.

As soon as the second quarter began, Melbourne's changed attitude was apparent. It translated into immediate scoreboard results, with Dawes kicking his second and third within the first five minutes. Goals to Harvey and Jarrad Waite steadied the ship for North, but the Demoms came again and in fact dominated the remainder of the first half. They held North scoreless for the remainder of the term and added 2.3, the goals going to Hogan and Jack Watts, to close the gap to just 18 at the half.

The half-time break did not arrest Melbourne's momentum. With majors to Hogan and Jeff Garlett within the first five minutes of the third term, the margin was reduced to just seven points. Garlett could have cut that to one point but dropped a simple chest mark in front go goal, with North sweeping up the crumbs and Thomas scoring his third to give the Roos breathing space. Still Melbourne came. Goals to Angus Brayshaw and Jack Viney saw the Demons get within two points, but the Kangaroos kicked two out of the three goals in time-on to turn for home with a lead of 10 points.

Waite's second extended the lead to 15 points at the two-minute mark but Melbourne were back within nine after a goal to Alex Neal-Bullen a minute later. Shaun Higgins responded for North but Hogan's fourth again cut the lead to fewer than two goals at the 10-minute mark. From there, though, the Roos settled and over the next 15 minutes added four goals to finally extinguish Melbourne's challenge. 

Best for North included Higgins (31 touches, two goals), Todd Goldstein (50 hitouts, eight marks) and Ben Cunnington (31 possessions, six marks), while Melbourne was well-served by Viney (nine tackles, 23 disposals) and Hogan (four goals, nine marks).

North will face St Kilda in Hobart next Saturday while 14th-placed Melbourne will play the rampant Western Bulldogs at Docklands on Sunday.

GOALS
Melbourne: Hogan 4; Dawes 3; Watts, Garlett, Viney, Brayshaw, N. Jones, Neal-Bullen, Gawn
North Melbourne: Thomas 5; Waite 3; Harvey, Brown, Higgins 2; Nahas 2; Petrie, Jacobs, Cunnington

BEST - THE AGE
Melbourne: Hogan, Dawes, Viney, Tyson, Cross, McDonald, Michie
North Melbourne: Higgins, Goldstein, Cunnington, Thomas, Jacobs, Waite, Dal Santo, Harvey

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Melbourne: Viney, Hogan, Dawes, Tyson, Brayshaw, Cross
North Melbourne: Higgins, Goldstein, Cunnington, Thomas, Waite, Harvey

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
North Melbourne: Ben Brown (calf)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Alex Neal-Bullen replaced James Harmes at three-quarter time.
North Melbourne: Aaron Mullett replaced Ben Brown at three-quarter time.

UMPIRES: Fisher, Stephens, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley, Barry Hall