North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs: NAB Cup live scores, blog
Roar Guru By The Cattery, 11 Mar 2012 The Cattery is a Roar Guru
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- AFL, live blog, NAB Cup, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs
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The last qualifying match of the NAB Cup action sees North Melbourne taking on the Western Bulldogs at Eureka Stadium. Join us for live scores and a blog of all the action from the first bounce at 3.40pm AEDT this afternoon.
This game is now a dead rubber, with the Eagles and Crows already having booked their spots in the final next weekend, but there is still plenty of interest in today’s game.
Realistically, no more than one of these two teams have a chance of breaking into the top eight this season, with most pundits viewing North Melbourne as having the better chance.
North coach Brad Scott would definitely be viewing this season as a breakthrough one for the Kangaroos, while the first time coach for the Bulldogs, Brendan McCartney, is overseeing a process change for his charges to put them back on track in catching up with the leading clubs.
In the first round of NAB Cup matches, McCartney wouldn’t have been too pleased with the Bulldogs falling in over the line against the youthful GWS and then failing against a second string Collingwood outfit.
However, last weekend, the Bulldogs were able to turn around that effort with an improved attack on the footy that saw them defeat Carlton in what was a hard, keenly contested pre-season game.
Will Minson showed a bit as the resting ruckman up forward, and much will be expected of Jordan Roughead with the move of veteran ruckman, Ben Hudson, to the Lions this season.
Brian Lake showed last weekend that he was close to returning to his best, good news for all Bulldog fans, but it remains to be seen whether Adam Cooney can follow suit.
Fantasy league pundits will also be keeping an eye on last year’s father-son selections: Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis, while Zeph Skinner remains a bit of a wildcard.
For North, they have a couple of big guns ready to fire. Todd Goldstein is looking to follow up a terrific season last year, while Drew Petrie made a return from injury last year and will be looking to hit top form early on in the season.
Robbie Tarrant, younger brother of Chris Tarrant, must just about be due for a break through season, having had an injury riddled career since being drafted in 2006.
Brett Harvey is in the twilight of his career, but still managed to produce the goods last season, while new captain, Andrew Swallow, is set to lead by example in the middle of the park.
The other interest in today’s game is the venue, North Ballarat, being one that has been explored by the wandering Kangaroos for future games, so the level of support they attract today will be under scrutiny.
Who goes into the AFL season proper on a high note? Find out in the final round-robin game of the NAB Cup this afternoon. We’ll be covering the action from the beginning at 3.40pm AEDT. If you’re watching, leave us your opinion in the space below.
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- AFL, live blog, NAB Cup, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs
March 11th 2012 @ 2:22pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
An update on who will play today, both sides resting some players:
North: Drew Petrie and Lachie Hansen are being rested.
Bulldogs: Adam Cooney, Matt Boyd, Danial Cross and Bob Murphy are being rested, and obviously Tom Williams is out for a while.
That’s a bit of experience for the dogs missing in the middle of the park, so I expect Libba and Wallis tp be given decent runs on the ball, and expect some draftees such as Clay Smith to get plenty of game time.
March 11th 2012 @ 2:57pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Dogs getting ready for the game:
http://instagr.am/p/IBHsnuQyrC/
March 11th 2012 @ 2:59pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
Suzi Olsen has tweeted:
Eureka stadium is packed! Good to see! Carn the @NorthKangaroos #NorthSpirit
March 11th 2012 @ 3:37pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
Not sure what’s going on – it’s 3:35, only five minutes away from ball up, and it’s a Fox Footy advert – it’s great, black and white vision and all – but is the game on???
March 11th 2012 @ 3:40pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:40pm | Report comment
One minute to go, and we’re now getting a close look at the Suns’ altitude training room, it’s interesting and all – but is the game on???
March 11th 2012 @ 3:42pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Ok, we’re just getting some picures now, maybe theire having trouble finding RCA sockets at Ballarat?
March 11th 2012 @ 3:43pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:43pm | Report comment
Temporary loss of audio from Ballarat.
Oops – just lost the picture – We apologise for this break in transmission.
From the little I could tell from the picture I received for 15 seconds, they had started, and neither team had scored.
March 11th 2012 @ 3:45pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:45pm | Report comment
Just got some vision back, still no score, it’s North in attack, over the line for a throw in, no – looks like the ump has paid deliberate – against Markovic – so North lining up, on the flank, a fair bit out, across the face of goal, and Lake takes a strong mark, he treid to play on, out for a boundary throw in, North win possession, and it’s Anthony with the quick snap for the first goal of the game
March 11th 2012 @ 3:47pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
NM 2.0 WB 0.0
North with the take away from the centre bounce, via Ziebell, dogs having trouble getting hands on the ball, don’t forget that they’ve gone in with a young side
and now it’s Adams with the mark, and the second goal for North
March 11th 2012 @ 3:49pm
The Cattery said | March 11th 2012 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
Looking at the replay, it was the dogs defenders that spoiled each other that allowed North to set up the shot on goal.
Dogs with the take away this time, it’s a free to Dahlhaus, outside 50, outer side, goes into the forward pocket, throw in
Higgins can’t break clear, dogs with forward line pressure, North eventually clear through Anthony, he’s getting a bit of it early, Markovic has to mop up for dogs, his kick across the face of goal puts Libba under pressure, rushed for a behind
NM 2.1 WB 0.0