When the final siren blew on Saturday it was North Melbourne victorious over St Kilda by 44 points.
The Saints played a with a lot intensity in the first half, but once they began to tire the Roos’ class really shone through.
Both sides played true to form really – the plucky Saints tried hard but didn’t have the quality, while the Roos weathered something of a storm before clearing away.
In the preview I said the Saints had a bit of question mark around their first 22, but the likes of Shane Savage and particularly Seb Ross made a pretty strong statement with good games today. Blake Acres also showed some good things.
Apart from that though it’s hard to identify standout players. The likes of Josh Saunders, Eli Templeton, Tom Curren, Jimmy Webster, Jack Newnes and Maverick Weller popped up from time to time but didn’t really shine over the whole of the game. The Saints need some of these guys to step up in 2016.
Unfortunately Patrick McCartin picked up a hamstring injury, which will interrupt his pre-season somewhat, I should think.
For North, Mason Wood is the big story. Four goals and in general a pretty impressive performance. He got a few chances last year but he looks like he could play 22 games and beyond this year. There is definitely a space in the Roos’ forwardline for a mobile third tall.
Of the other youngsters, Luke McDonald was solid, and Ryan Clarke and Brayden Preuss showed some signs.
But really the strength in North’s team is in the veterans, and Shaun Higgins, Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey and Jack Ziebell all made solid contributions.
Final score
St Kilda 1.9.10 73
North Melbourne 0.18.9 117
The NAB Challenge tour of Australia finds itself in Wangaratta this afternoon, as the North Melbourne Kangaroos face off against the St Kilda Saints. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting at 2:05pm AEDT.
This afternoon we get our first look at two teams that likely have very different expectations for 2016.
After defeats in preliminary finals in consecutive years, North are looking to win exactly two more games this season.
St Kilda will be hoping to build on the solid progress they’ve made in the past twelve months, but finals probably aren’t the expectation.
As is normal for the first game of the pre-season, both teams are missing many of their better players.
St Kilda have left Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, David Armitage, Sam Fisher, Billy Longer and Dylan Roberton out of the initial squad.
North have named a strong team, but will be without Nick Dal Santo, Todd Goldstein, Ben Brown, Sam Gibson, Daniel Wells and Lachie Hansen.
Based on the names picked, you’d think the Roos are taking this game a little more seriously.
As always, the focus at this stage of the pre-season is on the new players, and those on the fringes of the team trying to make the case for Round 1 selection.
Jed Anderson makes his first appearance for the Roos after being traded from Hawthorn. Farren Ray is also a likely starter against the club that delisted him a few months ago.
Draftees Corey Wagner, Ryan Clarke and Declan Mountford have been named in the squad.
It’s tough getting a regular game at North these days, so every minute of the pre-season will be important for the likes of Trent Dumont, Kayne Turner, Taylor Garner, Mason Wood and Aaron Black.
For St Kilda, there aren’t any recruits from other clubs, but they’ll be glad to see a bit more of talented youngsters Patrick McCartin, Eli Templeton and particularly Jack Billings.
Jade Gresham is likely to play his first competitive game after being drafted.
With first choice ruckman Billy Longer missing, Tom Hickey and Jason Holmes will be keen to make an impact.
And with no Steven, Armitage or Montagna, the Saints’ midfield will look quite different today. That creates chances for the likes of Luke Dunstan, Jack Newnes and Maverick Weller, who’ve been solid if not spectacular contributors.
St Kilda fans will also want to see that Josh Bruce and Jimmy Webster can kick on from good seasons in 2015.
From the outside it’s a little hard to be certain who is and isn’t in the Saints’ best 22. Blake Acres, Seb Ross, Sam Gilbert, Luke Delaney, Hugh Goddard, Josh Saunders, Shane Savage, Cameron Shenton and Jack Sinclair are probably all somewhere around the fringes.
The Saints have a number of fairly mature players who aren’t quite settled in the team. Alan Richardson will expect these guys to show a lot of intensity in games like this.
So while North look the stronger team on paper, and should have a decent win, you’d expect St Kilda to be competitive for patches at least.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting at 2:05pm AEDT.
TomC
Roar Guru
In case anyone is wondering what Josh is up to today...
TomC
Roar Guru
Overall, if I'm honest, not really an awful lot to learn from today's game. We got a taste of what St Kilda look like at their best, but also at their worst in that second half. North powered past them without too much effort. Seb Ross and Mason Wood look set for good seasons, on the strength of today. That's all for me, enjoy your Saturday night. And yes, it's good to have footy back!
TomC
Roar Guru
That's the final siren, and the Roos win by 44 points. The Saints played a with a lot intensity in the first half, but once they began to tire the Roos' class really shone through. Both sides played true to form really; the plucky Saints tried hard but didn't have the quality, while the Roos weathered something of a storm before clearing away. In the preview I said the Saints had a bit of question mark around their first 22, but the likes of Savage and particularly Seb Ross made a pretty strong statement with good games today. Acres also showed some good things. Apart from that though it's hard to identify standout players. The likes of Saunders, Templeton, Curren, Webster, Newnes and Weller popped up from time to time but didn't really shine over the whole of the game. The Saints need some of these guys to step up in 2016. Unfortunately McCartin picked up a hamstring injury, which will interrupt his pre-season somewhat, I should think. For North, Mason Wood is the big story. Four goals and in general a pretty impressive performance. He got a few chances last year but he looks like he could play 22 games and beyond this year. There is definitely a space in the Roos' forwardline for a mobile third tall. Of the other youngsters, Luke Macdonald was solid, and Clarke and Preuss showed some signs. But really the strength in North's team is in the veterans, and Higgins, Waite, Petrie, Harvey, Ziebell and Waite all made solid contributions.
TomC
Roar Guru
The final seconds tick away on this one, with North headed for a comfortable win.
TomC
Roar Guru
Saunders runs onto a loose ball and handballs to Curren on the outside. Curren's scrambling kick from 50 bounces through for a St Kilda goal. North by 43 points. We're in the last five minutes now.
Jarrod McGrouther
Roar Guru
TomC
Roar Guru
Wood takes a leading mark from a neat kick by Ryan Clarke. Wood with a chance to kick his fourth, and it's good. North by 49 points. Good return for Wood today.
TomC
Roar Guru
Wood makes a meal of an easy chance to pick up and goal in the forwardline, the Saints look set to clear but a great tackle by Waite on Savage gives Wood a second chance, and he snaps a good goal! That's Wood's third. North by 43 points with seven minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
Tom Lee with a bad turnover in the back pocket, kicks it straight to Jarrad Waite. Not sure Lee has a future as a defender. Waite makes the margin 37 points from point blank range, with nine minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
Cunnington with a free kick on a wing, passed straight to a Saints player in the open and jogged off the ground! A sign of the lack of intensity in this last quarter. Meantime, the Saints move it to Shenton who is all on his own at full forward. He wanders into an open goal. North by 30 points with 11 minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
Bruce kicks a goal for the Saints after a good leading mark. St Kilda 61 North 96 17 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
TomC
Roar Guru
That third quarter was totally dominated by the Roos, as the Saints' intensity dropped off appreciably. The usual suspects like Petrie, Ziebell and Harvey were impressive. Luke Macdonald also did some good things. St Kilda - well, they probably need to focus on getting through the rest of the game without any injuries. They look a bit short of run. Savage and Ross are still working hard, to be fair. EDIT: And apparently the Saints have withdrawn a few runners for the loss quarter, so it looks like it's all about management from here on for Richardson.
TomC
Roar Guru
A bit of stupidity at the end of that third quarter, as the Saints were awarded a downfield free kick and opted to take it from outside 50 to give them a shot at nine points. Maverick Weller, not exactly a noted goalkicker, took it and unsurprisingly missed after straining for distance. North lead by 40 points at three quarter time.
TomC
Roar Guru
Wagner with a superb pass to Harvey in the forwardline who runs into an open goal! Seriously good play from the Lions' academy product. North by 41 points.
TomC
Roar Guru
Anderson finds space at half forward, and hits Thomas deep forward Good quarter for Anderson. Good quarter for North. Thomas puts the Roos ahead by 35 points, close to three quarter time.
TomC
Roar Guru
Neat little goal by Sinclair for the Saints stops the Roos' run. St Kilda 53 North 82 6 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
TomC
Roar Guru
Anderson finds space in the forward pocket and takes a mark. He puts it through, and North extend their lead. Anderson has found it tough going today, but he's there to capitalise when the Roos get on top, so if he can contribute a bit from here he won't have done too badly.
TomC
Roar Guru
St Kilda's run has really dropped off now. All of a sudden there's a lot more space for the Roos.
TomC
Roar Guru
Petrie marks at half forward, he spots up Harvey in the pocket, he handballs to Thomas who kicks a goal along the ground. North's three most experienced players combining there. That's the difference today. St Kilda 46 North 75 14 minutes to play in the third quarter.
TomC
Roar Guru
The Roos with yet another goal early in the third quarter. Jarrad Waite does seem roving and grubs through a goal. St Kilda 46 North 69