Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe was reported and North Melbourne cemented their grip on a finals berth in a dramatic 11-point win over Fremantle at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Fyfe went into the umpire’s book after he made high, front-on contact with Ben Jacobs in the third-quarter of the Kangaroos’ 14.10 (94) to 12.11 (83) win.
Todd Goldstein battled Aaron Sandilands all afternoon in a fascinating ruck duel but bobbed up with two crucial goals – including the last major of the game – in the last quarter.
In a blow to his Brownlow Medal hopes, Fyfe was reported after he clattered into Jacobs as both players went for a loose ball in the third quarter.
With skipper and leading goal kicker Matthew Pavlich out with an Achilles injury, Fremantle kicked seven goals in the opening term but struggled to find reliable avenues to goal from then on.
North were without suspended onballer Jack Ziebell but it was their midfield brigade that worked them back into the contest after a slow start and provided their irresistible momentum in the last quarter when the Roos kicked five goals to two to seal a stunning win.
Lachie Neale provided the spark for the Dockers in the first quarter with 12 possessions as his side leapt out to 24-point lead at the first break.
The Kangaroos’ intensity around the contest lifted sharply in the second term and Brent Harvey, who finished with four majors, capitalised on that good work with three first-half goals.
The Roos made it harder for Ross Lyon’s men to transition quickly through the middle as they had done in the first quarter, with Michael Walters kicking their only goal for the term as the margin narrowed to 13 points at halftime.
The quality of the football after the restart wasn’t befitting two sides with lofty ambitions but the scrap suited North who clawed the deficit back to six points.
Jon Griffin stood tall to mark and kick the first goal of a frantic final term but the Kangaroos surged to the lead with the next three before holding out the ladder leaders.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Well Freo need to win four more games. So...
Cannos
Guest
hang in there don your delusional thoughts are gold
Don Freo
Guest
It is just a commentator's cliche...this 100 point thing. Usually 70 points is enough for Freo to win. Winning is what Freo has done more than any team this year.
13th Man
Guest
yes but Dalgety we have been saying they will come good for weeks! when will they actually click? perhaps the first half of the season was the abberation and we just aren't that good?
13th Man
Guest
yes Jax you are right. The forward line is the issue. We once again won most of the stats: inside 50s, clearances, contested possessions etc yet lost the game. Why? because our entries inside 50 are shocking and we lack the big forward targets of other sides like WC who have Kennedy and Darling. We have Pav who is a champ but he is alone and is double or triple teamed. Walters is the only other goalkicker. Alex Pearce is young and raw and whilst i think he is a great future prospect he can't shoulder the forward line just yet. Fyfe is too valuable in the middle to go forward. The only way we can win games is if our delivery into the forward 50 is excellent and the first qtr was a prime example of that, we were efficient, lowered our eyes and also kicked straight. Something changed at qtr time and in the second quarter we dominated yet only kicked 1 goal and let North kick 3 on the rebound. The second half was very poor and still we did not take our opportunities and when we did find a target inside 50 they missed (i'm looking at you Chris Mayne!......... that was the turning point!). This isn't the first time it happened. Against your boys last week we had just as much time inside our forward half for no results meanwhile WC were extremely efficient when inside 50. Forward efficiency is Fremantle's biggest issue and we will not win the premiership unless thing change dramatically! Also skill errors don't help and we made plenty. Danyle Pearce should be looking for a new home!
13th Man
Guest
umm Don, we aren't playing good footy and we are having BIG trouble kicking a winning score!. We haven't scored 100 points in a game since rd 8 and before then we had got 4 100s so there is trouble there. I think we need to acknowledge the fact that we are playing poor football and stop coming up with excuses. Right now we are the worst side ever to be on top of the ladder. Most top 8 sides would probably beat us on current form. I still believe we can win the premiership but we need to rediscover that early season form (and at quarter time on the weekend i said We're Back! that was the kiss of death lol)
13th Man
Guest
personally i'd rather play Hawks at Subi in week 1 than in Melbourne in the GF. Yes it's a small chance we would win but more than in Melbourne and with a second chance and then even if we lost we would potentially stay in Perth for 2 weeks as it would be a derby prelim, again WC would be favorites but anything can happen in a derby!
Don Freo
Guest
You direct that to Gene? Now there's a meeting of the minds. Let's now have your analysis of Hawthorn's performances over the last 3 weeks.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Gene, the lack of scoring power is the big factor going against them. But, equally as worrying is it is obvious a few of their players do not like it when real pressure come on. Pearce and Mzungu stood out for this against North and Lachie Neale looked like the Purple Wiggle doing 'Hot Potato...Hot potato...' every time the ball went near him against WCE Doesn't augur well for 'Fyfe-mantle' come finals time
WhereIsGene
Guest
Agreed, Freo are yesterday's hero and are limping into the finals. Strong chance of going out in straight sets.
jax
Guest
For a few months now I have been saying that Freo are not in very good form. I've heard defenses like - but we are still winning, we can turn it around, we have had to play in the rain, our back 6 isn't settled, I saw signs of improvement against the Suns, the last quarter against the Tigers was the shot in the arm we needed, I saw signs of improvements against WC etc. I also questioned the forward line earlier in the year and was told that Tabener and Apeness were ready. I am reasonably sure that Freo can turn it around but the question is will they? I am not convinced that they will but so long as your alive you are always in with a chance.
Don Freo
Guest
Kicking a winning score is not a problem...never has been. Kicking more than the opposition is an easy thing to do as Freo has shown all year. The first quarter indicates their ability to score...as do those so many run away beginnings against WC, Sydney etc. The issue is efficiency with disposal mid game. It is a concentration thing...a problem that will be well addressed now that we don't need stop gap players in defence. Game method will now fall into place with the defensive stability that is returning just in time for the finals.
jax
Guest
Freo are pretty much always hard to beat, even more so in a final. Their fans have been saying for months that Freo aren't I a form slump. They've said that they saw signs of a turnaround against the Suns and they said the same after losing to WC. They were able to keep winning most games because they primarily played weaker opponents. WC & North aren't weak opponents.
jax
Guest
I wasn't surprised to see North win. I tipped them to win this game for three reasons. 1. They needed the win more than Freo. 2. Freo haven't been in very good form for a few months. 3. Pav was out - that alone wouldn't normally sway my tip but it was the final nail in the coffin this week for me. They have been struggling to kick a winning score with Pav playing so I didn't give them much of a chance after he was withdrawn from the team.
Don Freo
Guest
No. They are folding up. Lake's gone. Hill must be injured. Gibson and Burgoyne are looser all the time. Hodge is gone and...as a result...Mitchell has no one to cover his unaccountability. Roughie is doing nothing and Gubston is just going. No rucks of any worth. Bring them on!!!
Axle an the Guru
Guest
Hawthorn would probly be the last team that Lyon would want to face Don, Hawthorn beat a team over there that is running hot ATM. Hawthorn know they can win over there remember and your guys are playing about as good as a refrigerated cucumber ATM. Your best option would be Sydney final first up.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Toothless? Maybe Fridays night game I'll agree with. but it may have been the Shock the Hawks needed to Come out fighting for the the Finals. For me the Finals are down to Freo/Eagles/Hawks.
Don Freo
Guest
That would be an ok scenario. I think Hawks are quite toothless at the moment and perhaps less threatening than every team in the 8 except Sydney.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
As a North supporter, I was more stunned than Freo that they kept persisting. Waite was probably most surprising of all, although he has improved generally at second efforts, defence and not disappearing after his initial lead is ignored. North were unaccountably accountable and finished full of running. Enough to give anyone a bad case of hope.
Balthazar
Guest
I hope you're right Dalgety but scoring 1.4, 2.2 and 2.3 over 3 quarters of football - when they really had the majority of the ball in the 2nd and 3rd - is inexcusable. They just did not look like scoring when Sonny and the ruckmen weren't there