The Roos have equalled their best start to the season in 38 years, winning their eighth game in a row by defeating a gallant Essendon by 14 points at Etihad Stadium.
REPORT: ROOS STAY PERFECT AGAINST DONS
It would be an understatement to say this was a game of two halves. The Roos thanks to a impenetrable defence and a more efficient midfield were too polished for the Bombers in the first half kicking eight goals and limiting the Bombers to their lowest first half score in over 100 years. The Bombers were kept goalless as turnovers and a lack of target up forward saw them continually break down across half forward.
The Roos through Swallow, Ziebell and Sam Gibson controlled the midfield and in particular clearances, and their use of the ball was far more efficient. Jacobs was keeping Bombers midfielder star David Zaharakis quiet and Robbie Tarrant was mopping up everything down back.
The Bombers were not completely hopeless as inside 50s in the first half were 25-20 in the Roos’ favour.
However in the second half, the Bombers midfield were able to break the shackles, Baguley and McDonald were able to give them great drive from defence and young Kyle Langford was able to provide a badly needed target taking seven second half marks. Merrett, Goddard and Cooney took over and the Bombers ended up outscoring North 8.8 to 2.8, kicking the last six goals of the match.
The Roos seemed to take their foot off the pedal and made uncharacteristic mistakes in the second half, some definitely due to excellent pressure but many came from players with no pressure around them. Their tall forwards were not as dominant as most expected with Waite, Brown and Petrie fairly quiet.
Jack Ziebell worked hard to finish with 13 contested possessions and 7 clearances and Gibson and Harvey were busy all day with 30+ possessions.
In the end the Roos would have been happy just for the four points although coach Brad Scott would not have been too pleased with their two-goal second half.
The Bombers fans at the ground gave their players a standing ovation after the final siren, as if they had won the game. It was fully deserved as the Bombers showed great heart to bounce back. Coach John Worsfold would have been particularly happy with the form of youngsters Darcy Parish and Kyle Langford and top up Matt Dea continued his push for a spot on next year’s list.
Final score
Essendon Bombers 8.12.60
North Melbourne Kangaroos 10.14.74
The North Melbourne Kangaroos will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season when they tackle the undermanned Essendon Bombers on Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:45pm (AEST).
A win to the Roos and an 8-0 record will see them equal their best start to a season since 1978. The Roos are coming off a big scare last week when the Saints made a gallant last quarter comeback that was thwarted in controversial circumstances, courtesy of a Todd Goldstein free kick and a delayed Mason Wood goal on the final siren.
The Bombers on the other hand have lost their last five games at an average of over 50 points a game. Their inability to play four quarters has proven costly, last week they were competitive for a half against the Swans but were overwhelmed in the last half, being outscored 13 goals to two.
The combination of a young list and players that have not played together has shown at times and their lack of big bodies around the ball has been telling, reflected in the fact that they rank last in contested possessions and contested marks.
These are areas where North will hold a substantial advantage as they rank sixth and third in these respective categories.
The Bombers biggest problem will be North’s height. Ruckman Todd Goldstein has continued on from his All Australian form of last season but it’s North’s tall forwards that will pose the biggest headache. Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown average just under a combined seven goals a game this season with 48 goals between them.
The Bombers defence looks undersized by comparison and surprisingly they have not added any extra height at the selection table.
In the midfield the Bombers also look undersized and a lot has been asked of their two leading possession winners, David Zaharakis and Zach Merrett, who have both had great starts to the year.
However the Roos midfield goes deep led by the likes of Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Sam Gibson and Andrew Swallow plus a strong supporting cast, and it’s hard to see how the Bombers will keep up with them.
Prediction
If the Bombers hope to get even close they need a lot more from young forward Joe Daniher who has struggled with all the extra attention he gets from opposition defenders. Admittedly the delivery has been poor but Daniher has been unable to come anywhere his match-winning performance against the Dees earlier in Round 2.
The Roos have lost Daniel Wells and Shaun Higgins which will be notable absences. The return of Lindsay Thomas may negate Higgins’ loss in the forward line and Majak Daw also comes in to add even more height to their forward line.
Roos by 45 points.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
VOTES 3. Sam Gibson (NM) - was everywhere and played a huge hand in setting up North's big first half lead. 2. Zach Merrett (Ess) - stood up in first half when they were badly beaten and then took it up a level in the second half to finish with a game high 18 contested possessions. 1. Robbie Tarrant (NM) - especially good in the first half and always in good position
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
The Roos have equalled their best start to the season in 38 years when they won their eighth game in a row to start the season defeating a gallant Essendon by 14 points at Etihad Stadium. It would be an understatement to say this was a game of two halves. The Roos thanks to a impenetrable defence and a more efficient midfield were too polished for the Bombers in the first half kicking eight goals and limiting the Bombers to their lowest first half score in over 100 years. the Bombers were kept goalless as turnovers and a lack of target up forward saw them continually break down across half forward. The Roos through Swallow, Ziebell and Sam Gibson controlled the midfield and in particular clearances and their use of the ball was far more efficient. Jacobs was keeping Bombers midfielder star David Zaharakis quiet and Robbie Tarrant was mopping up everything down back. The Bombers were not completely hopeless as inside 50s in the first half were 25-20 in the Roos' favour. However in the second half, the Bombers midfield were able to break the shackles, Baguley and McDonald were able to give them great drive from defence and young Kyle Langford was able to provide a badly needed target taking seven second half marks. Merrett, Goddard and Cooney took over and the Bombers ended up outscoring North 8.8 to 2.8 and kicked the last six goals of the match. The Roos seemed to take their foot off the pedal and made uncharacteristic mistakes in the second half, some definitely due to excellent pressure but many came from players with no pressure around them. Their tall forwards were not as dominant as most expected with Waite, Brown and Petrie fairly quiet. Jack Ziebell worked hard all day to finish with 13 contested possessions and 7 clearances and Gibson and HArvey busy all day with 30+ possessions. In the end the Roos would have been happy just for the four points although coach Brad Scott would not have been too happy with their two goal second half. The Bombers' fans at the ground gave their players a huge ovation after the final siren, as if they had won the game. It was fully deserved as the Bombers showed great heart to bounce back. Coach John worsfold would have been particularly happy with the form of youngsters Darcy Parish and Kyle Langford and top up Matt Dea continued his push for a spot on next year's list.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
FINAL SIREN and the Roos have won by 14 points ESS'DON 8 . 12 . 60 NTH MEL 10 . 14 . 74
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers launch a last attack...Daniher receives the handball from Cooney...runs to 45 and kicks another GOAL to the Bombers, they've kicked the last six. ESS'DON 8 . 12 . 60 NTH MEL 10 . 14 . 74 Q4 1 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
North counter attack...sees Daw run into open goal and......miss!! From 15m out.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Another chance goes begging for the Bombers..Merrett misses that time ESS'DON 7 . 12 . 54 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 2 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
McDonald-tippa sets the crowd alight with his run from the backline all the way forward ...kicks another point. ESS'DON 7 . 11 . 53 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 4 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers again out of the middle...Zaharakis kicks long to Redman who marks 30m out. Poor kick misses way to the right. ESS'DON 7 . 10 . 52 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 5 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers forward again,,,Baguley runs to half forward....finds Langford again!! 40m out. Kicks another GOAL! Bombers have kicked the last five goals. ESS'DON 7 . 9 . 51 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 6 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Daniher runs onto the wing kicks long to full forward...Langford runs onto it and snaps a GOAL!! ESS'DON 6 . 9 . 45 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 7 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Daniher marks the kick out 60m out...then finds Crowley40m out. Crowley kicks...and misses to the right. both teams wasteful this qtr. ESS'DON 5 . 9 . 39 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 9 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Trow in in the Bombers fwd line ...and Polkinghorne is pushed in the back...will have a shot from 40m out....misses to the left ESS'DON 5 . 8 . 38 NTH MEL 10 . 13 . 73 Q4 10 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Good movement by the Roos ...sees Gibson with a shot...misses ESS'DON 5 . 7 . 37 NTH MEL 10 . 12 . 72 Q4 14 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers continuing on from their good second qtr form. Langford two marks this quarter.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Two turnovers by the Roos sees Merrett and Cooney both kicking points. North by 33 points
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Last qtr gets under way...
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers kicked 5.1 that qtr to the Roos 2.4. Six more clearances for the Bombers that qtr. Goddard, Cooney, Merrett all giving them drive in the midle as well as an excellent qtr by Parish. Langford was a badly needed target. North seemed to be coasting in third gear and some uncharacteristic mistakes by them.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Petrie marks 60 out....passes to Harvey 40m out. Siren sounds as Harvey lines up....kicks....for a....misses everything THREE QUARTER TIME and the Roos lead by 35 points ESS'DON 5 . 5 . 35 NTH MEL 10 . 10 . 70
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Daniher marks 60m out...long to full forward...Fantasia roves...great snap!!. three in a row to the Bombers!! ESS'DON 5 . 5 . 35 NTH MEL 10 . 10 . 70 Q3 3 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Oh bad turnover by Gibson ...straight ro Redman 40 out hand ball to Daniher who runs in and kicks another for the Bombers ESS'DON 4 . 5 . 29 NTH MEL 10 . 9 . 69 Q3 5 mins remaining