The North Melbourne Kangaroos have defeated the Essendon Bombers 13.15.93 – 12.10.82 in round 7 of the AFL Premiership at Etihad stadium on Friday night. Drew Petrie and Lachlan Hansen were ever-present in a win that sees the Roos into the top 8.
Coming into the game North Melbourne had scored 51.26 from set shots, the fourth best accuracy of any side in the competition. Essendon has conceded just 15 points per game in opening quarters, ranked fourth. Both sides started with expected vigour on and off the ball demonstrating that there was indeed plenty on the line.
Travis Colyer and Jobe Watson kicked the first majors for Essendon as North Melbourne struggled to make some good opportunities with the ball count. Key forward Drew Petrie nudged through the Kanga’s first and a volume of points looked ready to spill. Several Kangaroos interceptions heaped pressure on the Bombers defence, but the young squad scrambled to keep things quiet on the scoreboard.
The Kangaroos have conceded 27 points per game in opening quarters ranked 17th. Jobe Watson helped that stat ring true kicking his second to close a 5 goal quarter for the Bombers. Up by 12 points (5.0.30 – 2.6.18), Essendon looked keen to prove the punters wrong with a win in the face of more off-field adversity and pressure on coach James Hird.
The North Melbourne midfield was running hot with Andrew Swallow the No.1 ranked Kangaroos player for metres gained with 188m in the opening term alone.
“Couple of really disappointing stoppage set ups that we pride ourselves on,” commented coach Brad Scott at the break.
“If we use our forwards a bit more I’m confident we can get back on top.” Scott said.
Scott’s words proved powerful as Drew Petrie kicked a goal 3 minutes in to the second after a poor clearance was intercepted. While the ball continued to make it into the attacking zone, North Melbourne were struggling to convert. Six of the past seven inside 50’s belonged to the Kangaroos midway through the second, with only three behinds to show for it.
A contentious decision to turn down a Bombers mark in the goal square angered the crowd. Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey rubbed salt into the wound, finishing off the resulting runaway play with a timeless punt.
Two more goals saw the Kangaroos hit the lead, looking confident after finally flicking the switch in front of goal. North Melbourne won the quarter 4.3 to 1.3 despite the Bombers winning the inside 50 count 15-13 for the term. Veteran Brendan Goddard kicked the Bombers back to within 12 points at the halftime stoppage (6.3.39 – 7.9.51). It was the Kangaroos that led all major statistics with +13 contested marks, +29 disposals, -1 inside 50’s.
Essendon needed a strong start to the 3rd and had two goals within the opening 5 minutes from Ambrose and Daniher. Up by 1 point things looked about to become much worse for North Melbourne as in-form tall man Ben Brown was removed the game with a hamstring injury.
The Kangaroos were doing a job on Jobe Watson, limiting his influence inside the forward fifty by smothering his chances at contested possessions. While Watson was enigmatic across the field, he only managed 1 contested possession up to the third quarter.
Two late Kangaroos goals had the blue and whites back on top at 8.1.58 – 9.13.67 heading into the final quarter. Lachlan Hansen was dominant in midfield for North Melbourne. Hansen was forced from the field with a groin strain, but returned to pick up where he left off, leading his side to a commanding position with 24 disposals and 14 marks.
Both sides traded goals for 15 minutes of the fourth quarter and Essendon had their chances to snap some painful points in dying stages. The Bombers forwards were let down with some inaccurate handballs as the pressure mounted and North Melbourne countered, kicking two late goals to seal the 11-point win.
Jack Ziebell was strong up front, kicking 2.2 in partnership with Petrie who finished with 2.0 and some clutch defensive marks in the final quarter.
“Yeah, Higgo [Sam Higgins] told me to go back, then I got the message from the bench to hold strong at the back,” commented Petrie.
“Glad to get a couple to stick.”
North Melbourne face Freemantle next week in a tough top 8 clash at Subiaco Oval. Essendon coach James Hird will be feeling more pressure, if that is possible, after another loss.
North Melbourne: Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Waite 2, Ziebell 2, Gibson, Harvey, Cunnington, Nahas, Higgins
Essendon: Colyer 2, Watson 2, Ambrose 2, Heppell, Goddard, Daniher, Bellchambers, Melksham, J.Merrett
BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Hansen, Cunnington, Goldstein, Swallow, Gibson
Essendon: Hurley, Heppell, Goddard, Hooker, Watson, Dempsey
VOTES
3. Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
2. Michael Hurley (Essendon)
1. Dyson Heppell (Essendon)
Umpires: Chamberlain, Findlay, Harris
Official crowd: 43,972
