AFL round one: The Bomber Blitz

 

Roar Pro

By Daniel Anderson, 26 Mar 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

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Matthew Knights would have been watching new Demon coach Dean Bailey with great interest and hoping like hell that his start to his coaching career didn’t end the same way.

During the first quarter, it looked as though it may be headed down the same track.

North Melbourne outclassed the Bombers in all aspects of the game and came out breathing fire. They were harder at the footy and used the ball well, and with Nathan Thompson looking ominous up forward, all the signs were pointing to a win for the Kangaroos.

To compound that, Scott Lucas left the field with a knee injury which may keep him sidelined for up to 12 weeks.

Then the Bombers seemed to be shocked into action. They were down by 27 points at one stage in the second quarter and ended the game in front by 55 points.

Mark McVeigh was outstanding for the Dons and won the inaugural Archer-Hird Medal for best on ground. He has certainly upped his fitness levels and he ran the legs off the Kangaroos mid-fielders.

With Lucas off the ground, Matthew Lloyd stood up and played a great captain’s game up forward, leading the goal kicking with six.

The new look mid-field oozes pace and a highlight from both sides was the pressure and the tackling from behind. It was brilliant.

Bachar Houli was excellent through the middle and his long left foot kicking is a great asset.

Thompson looked ominous in the first quarter and would have been pleased with his comeback game, but the Kangaroos were made to look slow as the Bombers ran rings around them.

The North Melbourne side will be furious at their missed opportunities in front of goal with David Hale the main offender, missing three fairly simple shots in the first quarter and a half.

The Roos were not helped by the fact the Corey Jones didn’t return to the ground after being taken off after a heavy knock. They have a bit of work to do before they tackle the Tigers in Round 2.

As for the Bombers, they will get a good gauge of where they’re at when they meet the reigning premiers Geelong this weekend.

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