North Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs: AFL live scores, blog
Columnist By Cameron Rose, 13 May 2012 Cameron Rose is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Brad Scott, live blog, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs
Andrew Swallow in the NAB Cup (Slattery Images)
Live Scores
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Melbourne are at Etihad Stadium today, suiting up for a must-win game against a struggling Western Bulldogs outfit that are still searching for a credible victory this year. Join us for live scores and blog from the first bounce at 1.10pm AEST.
In a year where there are twelve teams that seem genuine capable of playing finals football the Kangaroos, at 3-3, can’t afford to drop games against the likes of the Dogs if they are to be one of the eight teams looking to continue on in September.
With two soft wins against the expansions teams, their only victory of note has been in a white-hot performance against Geelong that made the public sit up and concede that this might be a team of some reckoning.
But losses to Essendon, Sydney, and West Coast suggest that the Roos are lagging a bit behind the legitimate premiership fancies, and still need to improve.
This is the first in a three game block that must see North sitting 6-3 at the end of it. After today, they play Port in Adelaide and Brisbane back at this venue.
We still may not have any answers about their credentials, but they will have built confidence and a momentum which could be season defining.
Expect Andrew Swallow to lead the way as ever, and Daniel Wells will need to work hard to continue his remarkable start to the season as he’ll have Liam Picken for company throughout the afternoon.
Drew Petrie is down on form, and may be matched up by Brian Lake, who isn’t. This will allow Aaron Edwards the freedom of playing on the inexperienced Mark Austin, and he’ll be looking to improve his current fifth placing in the race for the Coleman.
Of the youngsters coming through, Jamie MacMillan has caught the eye a couple of times this year, Shaun Atley seems to have gone up a level, and North Melbourne supporters will talk your ear off about how underrated Leigh Adams is, a footballer’s footballer with old-fashioned smarts and a taste for a goal.
We have the expansion teams, GWS and Gold Coast, and the basket-cases of Melbourne, Port and Brisbane sure to fill the bottom five placings on the ladder this year.
For mine, the Dogs come in above these teams, but well below the other twelve, and I think you can lock in a 13th place finish for them as a mathematical certainty.
They can win the ball okay, the Dogs, but converting that possession into goals is where they have been breaking down, and looking from the outside, it was never going to be any other way.
Their main key forward going into the season was Liam Jones, carrying the wealth of 25 games experience.
As expected, he’s struggled as the focal point, and it’s difficult to determine if it’s a blessing or a curse that he’s missing through injury today.
Ryan Griffen is the Bulldogs best player, and only classy game-breaker in the absence of the 2008 version of Adam Cooney. If he can be contained, then they won’t be able to generate enough quality ball inside 50.
Daniel Giansiracusa is the only forward that is consistently dangerous, but he’s easy enough to shut out by sweating on in a purely defensive role.
That Luke Dahlhaus has the grand tally of 17 games to his name and is already one of the Dogs five most important players tells you everything you need to know about this struggling team.
With the difference in the respective defences negligible, North Melbourne has greater depth in the midfield, a more potent attack, and will be far hungrier for the win knowing that their season can amount to something that the Bulldogs’ can not.
This result is going to be a one way street, especially if the Roos can bring the appropriate amount of desire, which I think they will.
North Melbourne by 45 points.
Which way will this one go? Find out from 1.10pm AEST as we cover the action with live scores and up-to-the-minute commentary and if you’re watching, give us your thoughts in the space below.
Live Score Updates
Scores updated each minute. REFRESH NOW
| Events | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameron Rose is a born and bred Melbournian, raised on a regime of AFL, cricket and horse racing. He likes people who agree with him but loves those that don't, for in his mind there is nothing better than a roaring debate. He tweets from @camtherose.
Looking to join The Roar team? We're searching for an experienced Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. Yes, this does mean you get to work with the site all day long! If you're a digital media sales star, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
Passionate about your AFL? Then sign up to The Roar's brand new daily AFL email, delivering Roaring articles directly to you day-in, day-out. You'll love it!
Click here to join now!
The Crowd Says (70) | Page 1 of Comments
The Roar Live Blog: Latest comments displayed at the top of the page | Click here to jump to leave a comment
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- AFL, Brad Scott, live blog, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Western Bulldogs
4:05pm
The Cattery said | 4:05pm | Report comment
Well played to the dogs, got their noses in front and stayed there till the end, good to see a team near the bottom winning against the odds.
6:19am
ManInBlack said | 6:19am | Report comment
North were very disappointing.
Physically, the young midfielders still aren’t up to it to take on guys like Boyd, Griffen and even Cross (as an experienced mature body).
And, once again – North gets the fixturing black plague of the Mothers Day lunchtime game. I hope the AFL suitably compensate all parties concerned.
3:57pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:57pm | Report comment
Superb effort from the Dogs, but the story of the day resides with the loser for mine.
North Melbourne were handed a friendly draw in playing both expansion teams twice, but you still have to beat the teams around you and lower in order to play finals football, and this loss today says to me that they are out of the finals race.
The Dogs were harder, tougher, stronger, quicker, cleaner, and on top of that had greater desire. They won the ball in the contest as well as on the outside, and dominated the inside fifty count. They even recorded more tackles, which speaks to an unshakeable mindset.
Their mid-sized forward were dangerous, but Ayce Cordy and Jordan Roughead showed some things with a nice grab or two, while Lake marshelled the defence well, with Hargrave there more often that not with support, as well as the running Vezpremi.
Youngsters in the midfield, Wallis and Liberatore, were great support acts for Boyd and Griffen. The captain just kept on going as he always does, imposing his will in the stoppages. Griffen was the game-breaker, and continually sent the ball forward dangerously.
So the Dogs very much deserved their victory, and should have won by more. The Kangaroos are dead in the water as far as season 2012 goes, and coach Brad Scott is entitled to feel some media heat for mine.
Thanks for joining me, and i’ll see you soon around The Roar.
4:21pm
Ian Whitchurch said | 4:21pm | Report comment
Im not writing any team off at this time of the year. Its a brutally even competition, and as today showed, even the bottom tier of clubs will pull some wins out.
5:37pm
Bob said | 5:37pm | Report comment
You obviously did not watch the WB games against Coll, WCE and Adelaide. They were very competitive in all those games- so why is it a surprise when they beat a second tier team?
9:46pm
Cameron Rose said | 9:46pm | Report comment
Bob, I did see all of those games that you mentioned, but I also saw the Dogs struggle to a win against Melbourne, read about the same against GWS, and watched the pitiful display against the Saints.
I went into this match today thinking I was seeing one good team and one poor team. Instead I saw two average ones. The Dogs are a bit better than I thought, and the Roos a bit worse. Neither will be playing finals.
3:50pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:50pm | Report comment
GOALS
WB: Dickson 4, Giansiracusa 3, Sherman, Higgins 2, Cordy, Cross, Wallis, Murphy 1
NM: Thomas, Petrie 3, Anthony 2, Harper, Edwards, Adams, Cunnington 1
DISPOSALS
WB: Boyd 44, Griffen 31, Wallis 28, Lake 26, Vezpremi 24
NM: Thompson 28, Anthony 27, Wells 24, Harvey 23
3:56pm
TheSportsFreak said | 3:56pm | Report comment
What a fizzer that was from the Kangas. Reckon they spent their petrol tickets last week against the Eagles.
There’s always people who believe they’ll never be a true challenger for a flag.
Could just be an aberration, but this happens far too often for North Melbourne.
Then again, the Bulldogs actually wanted the footy more, if they play like that more often in 2012, who knows, they could sneak up on the top eight.
3:47pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:47pm | Report comment
FULL TIME
WESTERN BULLDOGS 15.11.101 def NORTH MELBOURNE 12.11.83
3:46pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:46pm | Report comment
The match is over now, and the Dogs control the ball in the final minutes, happy to protect their lead and get a few minutes rest at the end.
They could have won by more, but the win is reward enough.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.11.101
1 to go 4th Quarter
3:45pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:45pm | Report comment
North try to defend with run, but Wright gets crunched in a Clay Smith tackle, earning a free for the young dog. He can’t make the distance with the set shot, but it eats up time enough to secure victory.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.11.101
2 to go 4th Quarter
3:43pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:43pm | Report comment
Swallow wins a free on the outer wing, and a goal must result from this move forward. Lake marks the kick, so it doesn’t happen. He’s been good again today, beaten Petrie pointless on the whole, despite the latters three goals.
Tired bodies everywhere, North can’t generate enough momentum to win the game.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.11.101
4 to go 4th Quarter
3:40pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:40pm | Report comment
Dogs winning every key stat, and are rightly in front. It would be an absolute injustice if they get rolled here, but I don’t think they will.
Boyd has topped the 40 disposal mark, he’s played a mighty game, but still hasn’t been his teams best.
Sherman tries to create a goal out of nothing, but it just rolls the other side of the post.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.11.101
6 to go 4th Quarter
3:39pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:39pm | Report comment
Dogs press it forward through Boyd and Cross, their experienced hands have been great today, as well as their youngsters for that matter.
Bulldogs are tackling with intent when they gets the chance, you get the feeling that they won’t be letting this one slip.
North must take risks, which they do, but it results in a turnover, and Gia finds Cordy. He misses horribly from 20m out.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.10.100
7 to go 4th Quarter
3:36pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:36pm | Report comment
Harvey gets involved a couple of times, setting up first gamer McKenzie who hits Petrie taking a towering mark. He plays on for the quick reply, but will it be enough.
NM 12.11.83
WB 15.9.99
9 to go 4th Quarter
3:34pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:34pm | Report comment
Roughead has been subbed off, and Clay Smith is in the game. We know he has goal-kicking nous after his four on debut, so he could be the type to kick the sealer.
Most of this term has been in the Roos half, but the Dogs have defended stoutly and controlled some possession in the back half, with Boyd in particular helping out.
Once again, Griffen gets involved, and Gia marks 10m out!! Great contested mark.
Kicks the goal, and that should be enough to sap the strength from North.
NM 11.11.77
WB 15.9.99
10 to go 4th Quarter
3:31pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:31pm | Report comment
North winning a bit more ball this quarter, and Wells uses composure to find Harper 45m out.
He pulls it, and the first goal of the term is still unkicked.
NM 11.11.77
WB 14.9.93
12 to go 4th Quarter
3:29pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:29pm | Report comment
Boyd takes a courageous mark in front of Petrie, as the Dogs hold strong. Pressure at both ends, and Gia kicks inside fifty to Grant who takes a one hander!!
From 49m out on the boundary, he pulls the kick.
The intensity is incredibly high, victory means plenty to both teams.
NM 11.10.76
WB 14.9.93
14 to go 4th Quarter
3:26pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:26pm | Report comment
The Dogs go forward through a searching kick from Vezpremi, but the Roos rebound the Cordy drop.
Petrie kicks long to a running Adams, but Murphy defends and rushes a behind as the Roos creep a little closer.
The first goal of the final stanza is still up for grabs.
NM 11.10.76
WB 14.8.92
16 to go 4th Quarter
3:24pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:24pm | Report comment
McKenzie in his first game gets subbed into the game at the expense of McIntosh.
North gets the first foray forward, and are looking for that first goal to spark them.
Thomas sends it deep to the line and a behind results.
NM 11.9.75
WB 14.8.92
18 to go 4th Quarter
3:20pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:20pm | Report comment
Five goals each in that term as the ball went to both ends at a rate of knots. The fact that it’s been easy to kick quick goals keeps North in the game, they could easily kick two or three quick ones and it’s game on.
Conversely, the Dogs could do the same and it will be all over. Enthralling spectacle thus far, and i’ll reiterate – the Roos season is on the line here, so they must steal a line from their opposition and come out snarling.
3:17pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:17pm | Report comment
THREE QUARTER TIME
NORTH MELBOURNE 11.8.74
WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.8.92
GOALS
NM: Thomas 3, Petrie, Anthony 2, Edwards, Adams, Harper 1
WB: Dickson 4, Higgins, Sherman, Giansiracusa 2, Cross, Cordy, Wallis, Murphy 1
DISPOSALS
NM: Anthony 24, Thompson 21, Wells 19
WB: Boyd 33, Griffen 25, Wallis 21
3:14pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:14pm | Report comment
Wells hits the post from long range, and there are going to be some very tired boys in the last quarter.
A goal either way here in the shadows of 3/4 time could be match-deciding.
NM 11.8.74
WB 14.8.92
1 to go 3rd Quarter
3:12pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:12pm | Report comment
McIntosh creates a contest against Hargrave, but seems to dislocate a knee in doing so. He writhes on the ground in pain, and is helped from the ground by a couple of hardy trainers.
The Roos need a late one to give themselves a big chance in the last quarter, but the Dogs defend grimly. It gets turned over, and Bastinac has a shot off the ground, but it rolls through for a behind.
Willing stuff.
NM 11.7.73
WB 14.8.92
2 to go 3rd Quarter
3:09pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:09pm | Report comment
North go forward but only for a behind. The Dogs rebound effectively, sending it deep themselves, but to no avail.
NM 11.6.72
WB 14.7.91
4 to go 3rd Quarter
3:06pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:06pm | Report comment
Hard to believe how easily the Dogs are kicking goals today, especially considering how difficult they have found it this year. It’s mainly due to how intense their pressure has been, and their dominance of the clearances.
Vezpremi has been good today, a lot of people have been waiting for him to consolidate himself as an AFL footballer.
The match has slowed a little, the players couldn’t keep up the pace.
North moves it patiently, and Liam Anthony snaps one from 45m out. They continue to just stay close enough.
NM 11.5.71
WB 14.7.91
6 to go 3rd Quarter
3:02pm
Cameron Rose said | 3:02pm | Report comment
A brief respite for supporters and players, as finally a centre clearance doesn’t result in a quick goal.
The players all attacking with frenzy, but this time it’s the Dogs again who find a way.
After plenty of scrapping in their forward fifty, the new boys Wallis, Libba and Dahlhaus feed it to Murphy, who kicks a long goal under pressure.
NM 10.5.65
WB 14.7.91
8 to go 3rd Quarter
2:59pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:59pm | Report comment
Sherman two in a minute! Griffen (again) pumps it deep forward, he’s is so good forward of centre.
Marking contest in the goalsquare, and once again Sherman swoops.
I can’t see how North comes back from here.
Then they win the clearance, and Edwards marks easily 10m out.
Four goals each this quarter, it’s been free and attacking.
NM 10.5.65
WB 13.7.85
9 to go 3rd Quarter
2:57pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:57pm | Report comment
Dogs respond immediately again! They won’t go away. Boy that was fast.
Minson taps to Boyd, who kicks inside 50 and Sherman swoops, snapping nicely.
NM 9.5.59
WB 12.7.79
10 to go 3rd Quarter
2:55pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:55pm | Report comment
Vezpremi gets it three times, and Dahlhaus twice in one passage of running play, and it ends up with the latter finding Higgins with a precise pass.
From 50m out, right on the paint, he pulls the kick for a behind.
It goes down the other end, and North gets a free after Lake dives on the ball and doesn’t get it out.
Nothing hurts a team more than missing a goal at one end, and conceding one immediately at the other.
Petrie kicks the goal, and despite a deathly quiet day, he’s got two.
NM 9.5.59
WB 11.7.73
11 to go 3rd Quarter
2:52pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:52pm | Report comment
Roos at 65% efficiency, Dogs at 77% according to commentary team. The Dogs are dominating the stats in contested possession, and total disposals as well.
So they’re going in harder, getting it more, and being more effective. Pretty easy to see why they’re on top1
In the meantime, Wells finds Anthony, who kicks a superb goal from the boundary.
NM 8.5.53
WB 11.6.72
14 to go 3rd Quarter
2:49pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:49pm | Report comment
Dogs winning it forward again, but North chopping it off under pressure. The Roos can’t get any clean ball from deep in their defensive fifty, the Dogs press is working effectively.
Harper kicks across the face of goal, but it’s a poor option, and Daniel Cross reads it beautifully. He cuts it off, and runs into an easy goal. They’re well on top, and it’s hard to see them losing from here.
NM 7.5.47
WB 11.6.72
16 to go 3rd Quarter
2:46pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:46pm | Report comment
North win it immediately from the centre, and Thomas kicks the opportunistic goal, his third.
NM 7.5.47
WB 10.6.66
18 to go 3rd Quarter
2:45pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:45pm | Report comment
Secondary stoppage from a centre bounce for almost the first time this match to start the quarter.
Dogs press forward through pressure more than anything else, Gia tumbles one inside 50 after Griffen did the hard work, and Tory Dickson swoops on it, and snaps truly on his left! Dogs away again!
NM 6.5.41
WB 10.6.66
19 to go 3rd Quarter
2:28pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:28pm | Report comment
As described thus far, the Dogs have owned this game, but a 19 point margin doesn’t justify it. Despite kicking six goals to three in the second term, they were actually more dominant in the opening quarter, when it was three goals apeice.
They’ve dominated possession, especially on the inside through Boyd, but also have been able to cut up the Roos on the outside, mainly through Griffen, who is also tough in the contest when called upon.
Their three mid-sized forwards of Dickson, Giansiracusa and Higgins have been hard to match up on, each smart footballers who know how to find space and use their body in a marking contest.
North Melbourne has to find a way to win the stoppages, and gets some football into the hands of key forwards Petrie and Edwards, who have had little impact. Lindsay Thomas looks the most dangerous Roo forward, but his kicking can’t be relied upon, especially under pressure.
North’s season is on the line in this second half, and i’m not sure it will be easy to come back from this.
2:23pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:23pm | Report comment
DISPOSALS
NM: Anthony 18, Atley 13, Swallow 10
WB: Boyd 21, Griffen 18, Wallis 13
2:22pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:22pm | Report comment
HALF TIME
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.5.41
WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.6.60
GOALS
NM: Thomas 2, Adams, Harper, Petrie, Cunnington 1
WB: Dickson 3, Higgins, Giansiracusa 2, Cordy, Wallis 1
2:21pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:21pm | Report comment
I’m still shaking my head at the poor umpiring on Goldstein, that was pathetic.
North still fighting and scrapping, but the Dogs have been given their heads, and they’re going to be hard to run down.
Wallis wins a free from a Ziebell slide, and gets a 50m penalty too. From 45m out, his kick just gets there, boosting the Bulldog lead.
NM 6.5.41
WB 9.6.60
1 to go 2nd Quarter
2:18pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:18pm | Report comment
Dogs push forward again, and Dickson snaps a behind.
North moves it swiftly up the other end, and wow. Goldsten marks alone inside 50 and runs into an open goal. But he was chased down and dropped the ball completely, but the umpire paid nothing, and Thomas soccers it through from a metre out!
NM 6.5.41
WB 8.6.54
2 to go 2nd Quarter
2:16pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:16pm | Report comment
Dahlhaus finds Sherman on the run on the outer wing, and he kicks long to Tory Dickson who wins a free, but marks it anyway.
It was noticeable there how quickly the Dogs were spreading, and how much more run they had in their legs, much pacier than their North counterparts.
Dickson kicks his third in professional style.
NM 5.5.35
WB 8.5.53
3 to go 2nd Quarter
2:14pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:14pm | Report comment
The crowd doesn’t look vast, but they’re in full voice, both teams usually a vocal minority.
Lindsay Thomas gets off the chain after the Roos surge forward, but kicks it horribly again. He really does have some mental demons, and it weighs on him heavily.
NM 5.5.35
WB 7.5.47
5 to go 2nd Quarter
2:11pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:11pm | Report comment
North should be five or six goals down, but keep hanging around, kicking goals on the counter-attack.
Gia finds himself completely alone after Sherman enacts a turnover, and he doesn’t make mistakes when no pressure is applied, kicking his second.
NM 5.4.34
WB 7.5.47
6 to go 2nd Quarter
2:09pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:09pm | Report comment
Leigh Adams bursts out of the centre, and Edwards crumbs the ball from Petrie’s contest, but only a behind ensues.
After some tight play with many numbers around, Sherman breaks free deep inside Dogs fifty, but only snaps a point. It is truly willing in the contest at the moment, all players going in hard, often at extreme pace.
Roughead and Griffen go down together, and North use the extra numbers to sweep it down for an Adams goal.
NM 5.4.34
WB 6.5.41
7 to go 2nd Quarter
2:06pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:06pm | Report comment
The contest is willing now, as the Dogs have maintained their intensity, while North have lifted theirs.
It’s only early in the year, and it’s a big call to make, but the Roos season is on the line here. I’ll declare that they can’t play finals if they don’t win this, and perhaps they’ve realized it.
Despite this, the Dogs are still in control, and just that bit harder at the ball. They move it across the ground, and Ayce Cordy marks strongly close to goal after a Dahlhaus long ball. He kicks truly.
NM 4.3.27
WB 6.4.40
9 to go 2nd Quarter
2:03pm
Cameron Rose said | 2:03pm | Report comment
The Roos having a nice little couple of minutes here, but Hargrave clears a deep ball, mopping up a Petrie contested spill.
Dogs sweep it forward through Grant and Liberatore, into a two on two, and the Dogs win it, Higgins running onto his own loose ball generated in a marking contest, kicking his second from close range.
NM 4.3.27
WB 5.4.34
11 to go 2nd Quarter
1:59pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:59pm | Report comment
North win a rare centre clearance, and the response from the Roos is quick and deadly.
Liam Anthony kicked quickly, and Harper runs onto the ball, finishing stylishly.
NM 4.3.27
WB 4.4.28
13 to go 2nd Quarter
1:58pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:58pm | Report comment
Higgins is back on the ground, so nothing amiss with his head.
Gia marks strongly inside 50 after Roughead sent it in long, and he puts the Dogs further in front.
NM 3.3.21
WB 4.4.28
14 to go 2nd Quarter
1:56pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:56pm | Report comment
Time in forward half is 64% in the Dogs favour, which is incredible dominance, especially in light of the scoreboard, where they haven’t capitalized.
Swallow wins a free, and Picken gives away a 50 which simply wasn’t there. It enables him to pierce a low ball to Petrie, who takes a diving mark.
He pushes the kick from a 45 degree angle, and can’t make them pay.
NM 3.3.21
WB 3.4.22
15 to go 2nd Quarter
1:53pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:53pm | Report comment
MacMillan sends it long to another Petrie v Lake duel, and the master full back uses his body superbly to take the mark. He is the best key defender in the game when at his best, and he looks to be nearing it in recent times.
Higgins has been taken from the ground after a head clash, and looks a little groggy. They won’t want to call on the sub yet, so will be hoping he can keep his wits about him.
NM 3.2.20
WB 3.4.22
17 to go 2nd Quarter
1:51pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:51pm | Report comment
Dogs get it straight out of the middle, and Sherman takes a flying shot only seconds in, but it just misses.
North takes it down the other end, but Thomas shanks a ball on the run from 20m out. Missed horribly.
One behind each in the opening minute of the term.
NM 3.2.20
WB 3.4.22
19 to go 2nd Quarter
1:47pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:47pm | Report comment
Ryan Griffen was the player to set that game alight, setting up Dickson’s two goals, and creating many other opportunities through his penetrative kicking. Brad Scott needs to put the clamps on right quick, because he could win this for the Dogs if ignored.
North need to lift their intensity around the ball, being dominated in the contest. More is needed out of Wells and Adams, who have only found the ball twice each.
1:44pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:44pm | Report comment
DISPOSALS
NM: Anthony 13, Atley 7
WB: Boyd 11, Griffen 10, Wallis, Murphy 7
1:43pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:43pm | Report comment
QUARTER TIME
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.1.19
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3.21
GOALS
NM: Cunnington, Thomas, Petrie 1
WB: Dickson 2, Higgins 1
1:42pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:42pm | Report comment
Griffen ran onto a loose ball at half forward, and sent a sharp ball Roughead’s way, but he dropped what he should have taken. Costly miss, as he would have kicked truly from 20m.
North rebound and there is a throw in deep inside their 50. Liam Anthony finds it, but kicks out of the full.
NM 3.1.19
WB 3.3.21
1 to go 1st Quarter
1:40pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:40pm | Report comment
Dogs control the ball again from the centre, and spread effectively, but Higgins gives away a free at half forward.
North chip the ball around due to Dogs getting numbers back, and eventually force a boundary throw in. Roos under intense pressure whenever they get the ball in general play.
McIntosh sends it deep, and from the spill, Thomas finds Adams 35m out.
He pushes the kick.
NM 3.1.19
WB 3.3.21
2 to go 1st Quarter
1:36pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:36pm | Report comment
Another centre clearance to the Dogs, this time through the ruckman Cordy. Leading 4-1 in this stat.
The Roos defend grimly though, and some stoppages are forced. Scott Thompson walks off the ground due to the blood rule, and players catch their breath.
Griffen sharks the ball at pace, and Dickson marks at the top of the goal square. He kicks his second.
Those two are doing it all, along with captain Boyd.
NM 3.0.18
WB 3.3.21
5 to go 1st Quarter
1:32pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:32pm | Report comment
NM were one of the top clearance sides coming into this match, but they are being soundly beaten in that area so far.
Griffen is doing as he likes, and it’s hard to fathom the freedom he is allowed by most clubs. A genuine top 25 player in the competition.
North uses patient movement, and Liam Anthony finds Lindsay Thomas. Not the best set shot, but he nails this one, and the Roos take an undeserved lead.
NM 3.0.18
WB 2.3.15
7 to go 1st Quarter
1:28pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:28pm | Report comment
Boyd gets the centre clearance and pumps it long, as is his way from tight situations.
Dahlhaus wins the free from the crumbs, but can’t make the distance. North’s defence is under siege, but they are holding up okay.
Dogs 52 possessions to 28, 10 inside 50′s to 4. They’re playing all over them, and clearly fancy a scalp here today.
NM 2.0.12
WB 2.3.15
9 to go 1st Quarter
1:26pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:26pm | Report comment
Dogs certainly playing with high intensity, and they move the ball slickly from half-back, and when the ball is in the hands of Griffen, their supporters are happy. Six touches to him, including three inside 50′s.
He finds Tory Dickson who has been busy in his comeback game, and he makes no mistake.
NM 2.0.12
WB 2.3.15
10 to go 1st Quarter
1:24pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:24pm | Report comment
8 inside 50′s to 4 in the Dogs favour in the early reckoning, so they’ll be spewing that they’re behind despite that dominance.
Roos not getting much of the ball, but flowing okay when they do, and looking dangerous when they go forward, although the last couple of entries have been sloppy.
NM 2.0.12
WB 1.3.9
12 to go 1st Quarter
1:21pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:21pm | Report comment
Picken has gone to Harvey instead of Wells. David King tells us that Clay Smith played in the two’s yesterday, so McCartney will be hoping that he doesn’t have a player go down early, because that is going to be one tired boy if called upon too soon.
The match has settled now after a frenetic opening, and a couple of scrimmages occur on the near wing. The Dogs applying pressure around the stoppages and winning most of them.
NM 2.0.12
WB 1.3.9
14 to go 1st Quarter
1:17pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:17pm | Report comment
Swallow, Edwards and McIntosh combine from the centre to pump in deep, and the ball spills from the marking contest and Cunnington is in the right position. He takes a hard bump from Picken, and finished from a couple of metres. Tough play, and the Roos are in front.
NM 2.0.12
WB 1.2.8
15 to go 1st Quarter
1:16pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:16pm | Report comment
Dogs get the clearance again, and are dominating the opening minutes. Griffen gets involved a couple of times, and Higgins snaps a behind. Roos just need to settle a bit.
NM gets their first inside 50, and it’s to a Petrie v Lake one-on-one, and a free for in the back gets awarded to Petrie. It was probably there, and Drew makes no mistake from 45m out directly in front.
NM 1.0.6
WB 1.2.8
16 to go 1st Quarter
1:13pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:13pm | Report comment
The Roos can’t clear from the kick out, and Rob Murphy gets time and space to find Higgins 30m out. He’ll cut you up most times.
Higgins doesn’t make the mistake of his captain, and kicks truly.
North yet to earn a disposal.
NM 0.0.0
WB 1.1.7
18 to go 1st Quarter.
1:12pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:12pm | Report comment
The Dogs win the first clearance through a free kick, and Gia finds Body inside 50, but he misses an easy set shot.
Minimal first blood to the Dogs.
NM 0.0.0
WB 0.1.1
19 to go 1st Quarter.
1:10pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:10pm | Report comment
Here we go. Players moving into position, and we’ll know soon enough if both teams are up for the contest.
1:08pm
GrantS said | 1:08pm | Report comment
Cameron I agree in part with what you say but the Roos were only beaten by Essendon by two points and the Bombers are current equal top.
However, if North Melbourne do not beat The Bulldogs by 40 points plus then, IMO, they will not be in the finals.
1:11pm
Cameron Rose said | 1:11pm | Report comment
Fair call Grant, but that’s why these games are now so important. The Roos missed out on that vital win against the Dons.
12:49pm
Cameron Rose said | 12:49pm | Report comment
The betting for this match is lopsided as expected, and I’m not shying away from the fact that I expect a comfortable victory to North. They are coming back from Perth, which can sometimes leave teams a little flat, and the Dogs have had an extra two days rest, but I don’t believe either can be enough of a factor to cause an upset.
Tab Sportsbet has NM at $1.30 to win as opposed to WB at $3.65. The line is only 16.5 points, and North have been smashed in on that as well, only paying $1.65 now to win by that meagre margin.
North over 39.5 is $2.90, and $6.50 for a 60+ win might be worth a few dollars.
12:44pm
Cameron Rose said | 12:44pm | Report comment
So the Kangaroos v Bulldogs match is only half an hour away and the big news is that Adam Cooney has been a late withdrawal, to be replaced with first year player Clay Smith, who will don the subs vest for Dogs. Looked an exciting player on debut, but struggled in a couple of games thereafter, with question marks over his endurance levels and ability to run out games. An undoubted talent though.
The Roos sub will be Brad McKenzie, who was a first round selection in last years draft. Always exciting to see new young talent on display, especially those of the highly-rated variety.