It took everything they had but North Melbourne finally got a win for Brad Scott to kick off their season. It was a wonderful game of footy: physical, intense, skillful, dramatic. The key statistics were remarkably even across the board and that was reflective of the game which see-sawed in momentum.
REPORT: ROOS GET A ROUND 1 WIN
With opportunities so even (time in forward half: NM – 49%, Adelaide – 51% and inside 50s NM – 56, Adelaide – 57) it was about who took their chances and which individuals stood up at crucial moments.
Brent Harvey had a quiet first half but (along with some help from Drew Petrie getting the ball to ground) broke the game open with 3 rapid goals in a row.
North Melbourne didn’t take the lead in the second or third quarter but turned a 24 point deficit into a positive margin when it mattered most.
Todd Goldstein was huge in the final term, taking 4 crucial, crunchtime, contested marks and booting an excellent goal. Sam Jacobs battled dutifully against him in the ruck but in the end couldn’t match his impact around the ground.
Ben Cunnington was key in the tough situations with 23 of his 27 disposals being contested ones. He, Jack Ziebell, Daniel Wells and Nick Dal Santo accounted for 29 of North’s 45 clearances in the match.
Wells (18 touches, 11 score involvements, 8 inside 50s, 7 tackles) made a wonderful return to senior footy while Robbie Tarrant and Jarrad Waite were strong down back and up forward respectively.
Josh Jenkins took his chances and used his strength to great effect as he booted 5 goals while Taylor Walker also provided a real presence in attack.
Daniel Talia was excellent in defence – clean with his disposal, quick and effective with his interceptions and spoils.
Mitch McGovern showed some real exciting signs up forward for a debutant. Scott Thompson, Matt Crouch and Brodie Smith worked hard and set up a lot of the play but it just wasn’t to be for Don Pyke in his first game as senior coach.
A big win for North Melbourne to kick their season off on the right foot for the first time in quite a while. The only real downer is a hamstring injury to new recruit Jed Anderson.
Goals:
North Melbourne – Waite 3, Harvey 3, Brown 2, Petrie 2, Garner 2, Dal Santo, Goldstein, Thomas, Higgins
Adelaide – Jenkins 5, Walker 2, M.Crouch, Seedsman, Douglas, Jacobs, Lynch, Mackay, Betts
Best:
North Melbourne – Goldstein, Waite, Wells, Cunnington, Tarrant, Harvey
Adelaide – Jenkins, Walker, Talia, Thompson, Smith, M.Crouch
Final score
North Melbourne 16.11.107
Adelaide 14.13.97
The Adelaide Crows begin life after Dangerfield while the North Melbourne Kangaroos look for a maiden first round victory under Brad Scott in their debut game of the 2016 season. Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a blog of the match, starting at 7:25pm AEDT.
The Crows made light work of North in last year’s opener, smacking them by 77 points at Adelaide Oval. The venue has changed but Adelaide have good cause for confidence – they’ve beaten the Kangaroos in 4 of their past 5 meetings.
It’s not quite at the ‘hoodoo’ stage but Brad Scott will be desperate to kick the season off with a victory. His team have lost their past 6 first round matchups under his tutelage.
It should be an exciting battle of the big men with two of the competition’s premier ruckmen going head to head in Todd Goldstein (playing his 150th game) and Sam Jacobs, along with the likes of Taylor Walker and Drew Petrie in the forward lines.
Walker had a day out in the corresponding fixture in 2015, booting 6 goals. North Melbourne will be hoping with the home ground advantage and a strong finish to last season that they’ll be able to keep both him and the Crows quieter this time around.
Former Hawk Jed Anderson will wear the blue and white for the first time tonight, while 2014 draftee Mitch McGovern and 2015 draftee Wayne Milera will debut for the Crows. Paul Seedsman will also play his first game for Adelaide after being traded over from Collingwood – it’s also his 50th career game.
Prediction: North by 11
Join The Roar for live scores from the game and a blog of the match, starting at 7:30pm AEDT.
Josh
Expert
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH BABY
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar's coverage of this cracker of a match. Thanks to everyone who had a gander and commented.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
MVP Votes: 3 - Todd Goldstein (NM) 2 - Daniel Wells (NM) 1 - Scott Thompson (ADE)
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
FULL TIME North Melbourne - 16.11.107 Adelaide - 14.13.97 Goals: North Melbourne - Waite 3, Harvey 3, Brown 2, Petrie 2, Garner 2, Dal Santo, Goldstein, Thomas, Higgins Adelaide - Jenkins 5, Walker 2, M.Crouch, Seedsman, Douglas, Jacobs, Lynch, Mackay, Betts Best: North Melbourne - Goldstein, Waite, Wells, Cunnington, Tarrant, Harvey Adelaide - Jenkins, Walker, Talia, Thompson, Smith, M.Crouch It took everything they had but North Melbourne finally got a win for Brad Scott to kick off their season. It was a wonderful game of footy: physical, intense, skillful, dramatic. The key statistics were remarkably even across the board and that was reflective of the game which see-sawed in momentum. With opportunities so even (time in forward half: NM - 49%, Adelaide - 51% and inside 50s NM - 56, Adelaide - 57) it was about who took their chances and which individuals stood up at crucial moments. Brent Harvey had a quiet first half but (along with some help from Petrie getting the ball to ground) broke the game open with 3 rapid goals in a row. North Melbourne didn't take the lead in the second or third quarter but turned a 24 point deficit into a positive margin when it mattered most. Goldstein was huge in the final term, taking 4 crucial, crunchtime, contested marks and booting an excellent goal. Jacobs battled dutifully against him in the ruck but in the end couldn't match his impact around the ground. Cunnington was key in the tough situations with 23 of his 27 disposals being contested ones. He, Ziebell, Wells and Dal Santo accounted for 29 of North's 45 clearances in the match. Wells (18 touches, 11 score involvements, 8 inside 50s, 7 tackles) made a wonderful return to senior footy while Tarrant and Waite were strong down back and up forward respectively. Josh Jenkins took his chances and used his strength to great effect as he booted 5 goals while Walker also provided a real presence in attack. Talia was excellent in defence - clean with his disposal, quick and effective with his interceptions and spoils. McGovern showed some real exciting signs up forward for a debutant. Thompson, M.Crouch and Smith worked hard and set up a lot of the play but it just wasn't to be for Don Pyke in his first game as senior coach. A big win for North Melbourne to kick their season off on the right foot for the first time in quite a while. The only real downer is a hamstring injury to new recruit Jed Anderson. Adelaide have the derby against Port in round 2 while North head up to the GABBA to play the Lions.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
Full time at Etihad stadium after a brilliant, intense display of football from both sides. North Melbourne - 16.11.107 defeat Adelaide - 14.13.97 North have come from 24 points down to finally get a round 1 win under Brad Scott on their 7th attempt. Full report coming up.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
Throw in on the wing, 30 seconds left. Last chance saloon for the Crows.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
1 minute left as Adelaide break away down the field.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE Waite takes a mark and will shoot from the right boundary, 40m out. Puts it through to the left for a behind off hands. North Melbourne - 16.11.107 Adelaide - 14.12.96 1:28 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Great roving from McGovern but he can't get the goal, that would have been very big. North Melbourne - 16.10.106 Adelaide - 14.12.96 2:36 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE That could be the game! Wonderful play from Garner, just bullocked his way through to the ball with a man on his tail and put the ball through with a side foot soccer from 20m out. North Melbourne - 16.10.106 Adelaide - 14.11.95 2:52 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
Goldstein has finally got the better of Jacobs around the ground, really imposing himself on the game. His third contested mark for the term with 4 minutes remaining.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
Wells leads all comers with 11 score involvements tonight.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
6 minutes left here. The players are exhausted and the momentum is constantly shifting. Has been a bruising, exhausting game.
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Smith pops it inside 50 and it's the debutant McGovern! Floats across the back and takes a wonderful grab but can't slot the goal from a tight angle. North Melbourne - 15.10.100 Adelaide - 14.11.95 7:21 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Petrie takes a strong mark and will kick from about 45m out. Cool as you like, lovely kick through the middle! Wonderful mark from Waite on the wing leading up to that shot. North Melbourne - 15.10.100 Adelaide - 14.10.94 9:06 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE An extremely clever tap from Wells leaves McDonald open to have a shot but he misses - scores are level again! North Melbourne - 14.10.94 Adelaide - 14.10.94 10:29 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE Walker can't get the full six but he does put the Crows in front. North Melbourne - 14.9.93 Adelaide - 14.10.94 12:07 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE A very poor turnover from Atley coming out of defence and the ball comes straight back in. Betts marks in the left pocket on an extremely tough angle...but Eddie relishes shots like this! Drop punt, splits the middle. His first for the evening. North Melbourne - 14.9.93 Adelaide - 14.9.93 13:36 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
BEHIND ADELAIDE The Crows finally attack and go inside 50, Betts is on the end of it but rushes the kick and it's only a behind. North Melbourne - 14.9.93 Adelaide - 13.9.87 14:30 remaining Q4
Dylan Toune
Roar Guru
7 inside 50s to 0 so far this term, North Melbourne's way