Sunday twilight football takes us to Etihad Stadium as North Melbourne and St Kilda do battle to keep their season’s afloat. Live scores and commentary coming up from 4.40pm AEST.
Undoubtedly, North Melbourne was a massive story of Round 9 following their capitulation at the hands of the Adelaide Crows in the final quarter.
Collingwood are not the only team whose endurance and durability has been questioned during the week.
The season has now just about slipped out of their grasp, with many asking the question whether the season has been a waste after four matches where they held the lead, but let it go in the closing stages.
The Kangaroos are probably the most competitive 3-6 team in the history of the AFL with the side holding a percentage of 106.9 despite being in 13th spot.
They have played some very good football with a very potent forward line that is kicking plenty of goals (they’re the fifth highest-scoring team in 2013).
But they’ve defence has more holes in it than Swiss cheese, giving up goals on the fast-break consistently, which also suggests the defensive pressure of their midfield is not up to scratch.
North Melbourne will more than likely sprint out of the blocks again (winning eight of nine first quarters this season), but it’s their second half performance that will need to be strong to hold off the Saints.
No Jack Ziebell in the line up is disappointing, but they should be able to cover him through the midfield with someone like Levi Greenwood or Liam Anthony.
St Kilda hasn’t been that bad a team this season. Many of the pundits didn’t have St Kilda playing in the finals and many believed the end of the era was already at an end.
So the debate surrounding the regeneration or rebirth of this team is a strange one – a bit like how there’s immense discussion surrounding the failures of the Bulldogs (which was also expected).
No doubt the Saints should have been able to shut their game down against the Western Bulldogs last weekend, but were over-run in the final stages.
Lenny Hayes was a key out in the final quarter after copping a corked calf. Should he pass his fitness test, he will be a massive plus for the Saints.
Also expect to see Nick Riewoldt continue his incredible start to the season, despite the negativity surrounding the team.
He has been described as being back to his influential best, despite being at the very back end of his career at the age of 31.
These games that North Melbourne are expected to win are the ones that probably don’t worry the fans too much.
But based on recent form, if they don’t hold a decent lead in the final quarter, St Kilda will be fancying their chances of an upset tonight.
Milz
Guest
About time the boys won one!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | North Melbourne 19.19 (133) def. St Kilda 10.5 (65) That's it from this match in Round 10 of the AFL. A reminder, there's still one more match to come - tomorrow night from Patersons Stadium with West Coast vs. Richmond. Make sure you join us for that. But tonight, it's the Kangaroos who keep their finals hopes alive, while St Kilda have plenty of soul searching to do. North Melbourne win by 68 points!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | North Melbourne 19.19 (133) def. St Kilda 10.5 (65) Quarter by Quarter North Melbourne 9.7 13.10 17.14 19.19 (133) St Kilda 1.0 4.3 9.3 10.5 (65) Goalscorers NM (6) – Aaron Black 5, Brent Harvey 4, Drew Petrie 4, Lindsay Thomas 3, Aaron Mullett 1, Sam Wright 1, Ryan Bastinac 1 NM (7) – Nick Riewoldt 3, Rhys Stanley 2, Jack Steven 1, Jarryn Geary 1, Stephen Milne 1, Jimmy Webster 1, Leigh Montagna 1 Team Stats Disposals: NM 415-291; Disposal Efficiency: NM 75%-71%; Kicking Efficiency: NM 70%-65%; Contested Possessions: NM 148-113; Marks: NM 136-69; Marks Inside 50: NM 17-6; Clearances: NM 44-35; Tackles: STK 54-50; Inside 50’s: NM 54-33; Hitouts: NM 58-39; Hitouts To Advantage: NM 14-3; Free Kicks For: NM 24-11; Clangers: STK 45-29 Player Stats Aaron Mullett (NM) 31 disposals, 7 contested possessions, 11 marks (2 contested), 3 rebound 50’s, 5 bounces, 3 inside 50’s, 1 goal Lachie Hansen (NM) 27 disposals, 5 contested possessions, 12 marks, 3 rebound 50’s, 1 goal assist Ryan Bastinac (NM) 26 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 7 marks, 5 clearances, 4 bounces, 4 inside 50’s, 1 goal Andrew Swallow (NM) 25 disposals, 9 contested possessions, 9 marks, 4 clearances, 5 tackles, 1 goal assist Nick Dal Santo (STK) 25 disposals, 7 marks, 3 clearances, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50’s, 2 goal assists Farren Ray (STK) 25 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 bounces, 3 inside 50’s
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | North Melbourne 19.19 (133) def. St Kilda 10.5 (65) Boomer Harvey tries to turn it on with 20 seconds to go... takes a few bounces, then snaps from 35m out - MISSED IT! Drat! There's the final siren! A bit of a party tonight at Arden Street as they get up by a mammoth 68pts against St Kilda, thanks to a massive opening quarter! Boomer Harvey's 350th and Daniel Wells' 200th will be memorable for many reasons. While Leigh Montagna battled hard for the Saints in his 200th, but not much help elsewhere!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 3:13 left | NM 19.18 (132) | STK 10.5 (65) Daniel Wells sells the candy, then handballs to Harvey... HE CAN'T PICK IT UP!!! He got it forward 30m just by paddling it, but can't pick it up! Take 2 - Lindsay Thomas passes to Harvey again... this time he marks it. Runs in from 45m out - behind only
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 5:20 left | NM 19.17 (131) | STK 10.5 (65) Jack Steven with a raking handball to Arryn Siposs... but his kick inside 50 is poor to the pocket. Not been his day. Nor has it been Riewoldt's day - leading like crazy... but didn't get near him!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 6:07 left | NM 19.17 (131) | STK 10.5 (65) Todd Goldstein all by his lonesome in the middle of the ground. Handballs to Leigh Adams, then delivers to the lead of Lindsay Thomas! Decides to try to find Brent Harvey short... missed the mark. Spills out to Taylor Hine... from 45m out - misses
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:10 left | NM 19.16 (130) | STK 10.5 (65) Jack Steven and Leigh Montagna combine at the wing... but the kick from Montagna is a turnover to Scott Thompson - he's been a stand out today in defence! Shaun Atley now at the wing, tries to find Swallow near half forward... spills it out of bounds for a ball in. Quick ball inside 50 towards Petrie, can't mark... follows up with a smother! And he might have done some damage to Nathan Wright!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 8:48 left | NM 19.16 (130) | STK 10.5 (65) Aaron Black with a great mark at centre wing. But the Kangas are just happy to pass the footy around and eat up time. Now Lachie Hansen moves it forward to Harvey. Then delivers it perfectly to Drew Petrie! Will kick for his 4th tonight... from 40m out - SWEET - GOAL!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 11:07 left | NM 18.16 (124) | STK 10.5 (65) Daniel Wells and Leigh Adams combine in the middle... then a handball in front of Ryan Bastinac. Runs through the middle of the ground, looks up... sees THOMAS! Grabs it 45m out from goal. Kicks a GOAL!! His 3rd today
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 12:16 left | NM 17.16 (118) | STK 10.5 (65) Sam Fisher forces a turnover at the wing. Then runs away from the contest, kicks inside 50 towards Riewoldt... drops a little shorter and Rhys Stanley takes the mark. From 52m out - drifted right for a behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 13:14 left | NM 17.16 (118) | STK 10.4 (64) Nick Dal Santo from the wing kicks out in front of Ahmed Saad... but a a great spoil from Taylor Hine (sub) to force it out. Bad day for Ahmed Saad - just 3 disposals, all handballs! Cold day for him! Stoppage 35m out from STK goals... a quick snap on goal from Jack Steven is just a behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 14:10 left | NM 17.16 (118) | STK 10.3 (63) Drew Petrie marks the footy 65m out from goal. Kicks into the 50 to Black... drops it. Then a high ball back into the 50m arc by Petrie again, but runs out of bounds. Ball in 35m out - cleared by Sam Fisher...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 15:27 left | NM 17.16 (118) | STK 10.3 (63) James Gwilt off half back goes down the guts to Nick Riewoldt. Handballs to Dal Santo. Nice ball into the forward line to Rhys Stanley. Probably the best transfer to their forward line all day. Kick from Stanley is a GOAL!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 16:40 left | NM 17.16 (118) | STK 9.3 (57) Aaron Mullett with ample time kicks into the forward 50m... Harvey handballs off to Aaron Black. Shoots for his 6th... nope, just the behind
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 17:28 left | NM 17.15 (117) | STK 9.3 (57) Daniel Wells eludes a tackler at the half forward line... then handballs backwards. Scott Thompson with a booming kick into the goal square... no mark... BOOMER... snaps... but misses.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 19:00 left | NM 17.14 (116) | STK 9.3 (57) SUBSTITUTION NM - Taylor Hine ON, Will Sierakowski OFF
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 19:59 left | NM 17.14 (116) | STK 9.3 (57) Final quarter underway.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME | NM 17.14 (116) | STK 9.3 (57) It looked for about 5 minutes in Q3 St Kilda might have worked their way back into it and might have been able to put some pressure on the Kangas. But North Melbourne responded well and managed to get the lead back out to 59 points with 30 minutes to go. Interesting stat - North Melbourne has had more Effective Kicks (139) than St Kilda has had Overall Kicks (120)
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME | NM 17.14 (116) | STK 9.3 (57) Quarter by Quarter North Melbourne 9.7 13.10 17.14 St Kilda 1.0 4.3 9.3 Goalscorers NM (6) – Aaron Black 5, Brent Harvey 4, Drew Petrie 3, Lindsay Thomas 2, Aaron Mullett 1, Sam Wright 1, Ryan Bastinac 1 NM (7) – Nick Riewoldt 3, Jack Steven 1, Jarryn Geary 1, Stephen Milne 1, Jimmy Webster 1, Rhys Stanley 1, Leigh Montagna 1 Team Stats Disposals: NM 310-215; Disposal Efficiency: NM 75%-68%; Kicking Efficiency: NM 71%-63%; Contested Possessions: NM 119-95; Marks: NM 104-43; Marks Inside 50: NM 14-4; Clearances: NM 36-30; Tackles: STK 45-41; Inside 50’s: NM 42-25; Hitouts: NM 47-34; Hitouts To Advantage: NM 9-3; Free Kicks For: NM 23-8; Clangers: STK 40-21 Player Stats Aaron Mullett (NM) 23 disposals, 5 contested possessions, 9 marks, 2 inside 50’s, 1 goal Leigh Adams (NM) 20 disposals, 9 contested possessions, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50’s Ryan Bastinac (NM) 20 disposals, 7 contested possessions, 6 marks, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50’s, 1 goal Ben Cunnington (NM) 20 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 7 clearances, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50’s