Australian Football

Match Report

North Melbourne continued its good start to the 2016 with a solid away win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night to stake an early claim on a place in the top four. The Kangaroos became the first team to win two games this season and also the first 'away' side to win a match after the first nine had all gone the way of the (in some cases nominal) home team. They trailed the Lions at quarter time but took control in the second term before eventually coasting to a 34-point victory. 

Claye Beams got Brisbane off to a good start with a goal after a mark from a very poor kick-out from North defender Shaun Atley. Goals to Ben Brown and Brent Harvey then got the Roos going but the Lions got right on top after that. They squandered their dominance, though, with missed shots at goal and the only other major for the term - to Dayne Zorko - saw them lead by just four points - 2.7 to 2.3 - at quarter time. 

The Brisbane domination continued early in the second term but unfortunately, so did the Lions' inaccuracy. Lewis Taylor, Stefan Martin and Pearce Hanley all had set shots at goal in the first five minutes and all three missed. At that point the Lions had had seven more scoring shots for a measly advantage of seven points. After Todd Goldstein goaled for North, Brisbane had two further set shots, but a shot from Beams didn't even score Ryan Lester's attempt produced yet another behind, leaving the the Lions just two points ahead.

Almost inevitably, the tide turned soon after and North Melbourne took control. While the Kangaroos also missed some shots at goal, they found the big sticks often enough to kick five of the remaining seven goals to lead Brisbane by 21 points at the long break.

Three of the first five goals went the Lions' way in the first 12 minutes of the third term to cut the difference back to 16 but North closed out the quarter with three majors to take a commanding 37-point lead into the final change of ends. To the Lions' credit they fought out the last quarter valiantly, kicking four goals, but could not get the margin below 28. The Kangaroos kicked four of their own and finished with a comfortable win.

Best for North included Jarrad Waite (five goals, 23 disposals) and Daniel Wells (23 possessions, five marks), while Brisbane was well served by Lewis Taylor (eight marks and 22 touches) and Pearce Hanley (24 disposals).

North will look to make it three from three against Melbourne in Hobart on Sunday while Brisbane will travel to Kardinia Park in search of its first win of the year on the same day to take on Geelong. 

GOALS
Brisbane: Green, Taylor, Zorko 2; C Beams, Bell, Lester, Rockliff, Walker
North Melbourne: Waite 5; Brown 3; Dal Santo, Gibson, Harvey 2; Goldstein, Petrie, Ziebell

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: Hanley, Zorko, Bewick, Taylor
North Melbourne: Waite, Wells, Ziebell, Jacobs, Brown, Swallow, Goldstein

BEST - BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU
Brisbane: Taylor, Hanley, Zorko, Bewick, Martin
North Melbourne: Waite, Wells, Ziebell, Harvey, Brown, Jacobs

INJURIES
Brisbane: Rockliff (calf), Rich (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Thompson (soreness) replaced in selected side by Hansen; Turner (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Jacobs

UMPIRES: Deboy, Kamolins, Nicholls

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Alastair Lynch, Barry Hall