The North Melbourne Kangaroos are two games clear on the top of the ladder after a 67-point win over the Carlton Blues on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
REPORT: NORTH GO 9-0 WITH BIG WIN
Final score
North Melbourne 17.11.113
Carlton 6.10.46
The North Melbourne Kangaroos are looking to make it nine straight wins on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium, but standing in their way are the surprising in-form Carlton Blues. Join The Roar from 7:25pm (AEST) for live scores and rolling commentary.
First and foremost, well done Carlton. The players, the coaching staff, the fans – you have all been mighty the past month, and for a team that performed so poorly in 2015 to win four games in a row and be within a lick of the top eight is an effort worth commending. However, the next obstacle is a tough one in the shape of the ladder-leading Kangaroos.
Things went seriously off-script last week for North in their second half collapse against Essendon, who after kicking only four points in the first half managed to outscore the Roos in the second half. With an experienced list and a fiery coach, you get the feeling they’ll be out for redemption, and could take Carlton to the cleaners.
Good news for Blues fans though – Carlton seem to be a bit of bogey side for the Shinboners and have pinched a win on three out of the last five occasions they’ve met.
What isn’t so good is the look of the navy blue casualty ward following last week’s brilliant win. The horrible ongoing relationship between Matthew Kruezer and the sidelines is back in full swing, with the former No.1 pick injuring his knee, while Levi Casboult, who has been the Blues’ go-to man up forward this year, is also out with a leg injury. Michael Jamison, who is ill, will also miss.
Jacob Weitering makes a very welcome return while Daniel Gorringe and Simon White get an opportunity to prove their worth.
As for North Melbourne, Mason Wood will not play after his nasty concussion last week, Ben Jacobs’ foot injury has ruled him out and Majak Daw has been omitted. Farren Ray will play his first game for the Kangaroos, joining Michael Firrito and Trent Dumont as handy inclusions.
Todd Goldstein is one player to keep an eye on tonight. It seems like the type of contest the genius ruckman will relish, he could be set for a monster night on the stat sheet.
Contested possession is the biggest area the Blues midfield will need to improve on up against hardened bodies like Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington and Andrew Swallow – if they can hold their own and make use of their skillful players such as Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs on the outside, they might be able to craft a famous win to make it five in a row.
The era of Brendon Bolton is in full swing, and a win today would be astronomical for this club. The competition frontrunners against the surprise package – should be a cracker.
Prediction
Kangaroos will be too strong when it matters and go 9-0.
North Melbourne by 38.
Will North Melbourne fiercely defend top spot or will Carlton take another shock step closer to the top 8? Join The Roar from 7:25pm (AEST) for all the action, live scores and a live blog – and join in the discussion below.
Perry Bridge
Guest
There's also the question of where the stats are gathered, and the effectiveness of disposals/metres gained etc. The other thing is that North has a higher kicks to handballs ratio. As it was too - the ruck dominance of Goldstein allowed North many more centre clearances (of quality) rather than pressured scrapping.
Stephen
Guest
I guess that the answer there is that you can't just rate stats on quantity. The quality of those respective stats was the difference. Doesn't matter how many disposals you get, if you butcher the ball or defensive pressure is such that you have no good options the quantity of the stats becomes meaningless. This year North have consistently been more efficient with disposals than their opposition.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT The Kangaroos have burst the Blues’ bubble, storming to a 67 point win at Etihad Stadium. They now sit two games clear on top of the ladder at 9-0; the best start to a season in club history. Once again for the Kangaroos the victory came on the back of an across-the-board team effort, with Carlton unable to match them in any facet of the game for long. From the first bounce the game went accordingly to North’s plan, with a true dominance of the centre square giving first use to the North forwards. Jack Ziebell began the game strongly and remained at that standard, putting his head over the ball and contributing heavily at ground level all night. Todd Goldstein had an influential performance both in the ruck and up forward where he managed to finish with three goals. Carlton looked able to keep pace with North Melbourne at times in the first half, but it was the ease at which the Kangaroos could score which proved the difference. Young Irishman Ciaran Byrne tried hard in defence along with blossoming star Sam Docherty, but in the end they were overpowered. Sam Kerridge also continued his wonderful first season as a Blue and gathered 29 possessions as his team’s best. North’s backline worked seamlessly together to only let through 6 goals for the match, mainly on the back of Robbie Tarrant’s ability to read the play and remain composed under any pressure that came his way. In the end, the maturity and class of the Kangaroos was simply too good, and with Carlton on the back foot all night the chances of up an upset were slim to none. Dal Santo, McDonald and the evergreen Brent Harvey also played fantastic games worth mentioning. Carlton slip to 4-5, and can look forward to another tough outing next week against Geelong. Now begins the true test for the Kangaroos, with four fellow top eight sides approaching in the next month. That top four spot is theirs to lose – now we can see what they’re really made of. VOTES 3 – Jack Ziebell 2 – Robbie Tarrant 1 – Todd Goldstein
Macca
Guest
Funny looking at the stats - the blues and 7 of the top 8 posessions winners and outside clearances and contested possessions they matched north in most areas but end up 11 goal losers.
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Match report and votes to come - got some thinking to do!
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Final siren sounds! The Kangaroos win by 67 points and go 9-0! North Melbourne 17.11.113 Carlton 6.10.46
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Jarrad Waite tries for another high flying mark, this time in the backline! Can't quite bring it to ground though. Q4 27′ North Melbourne 17.11.113 Carlton 6.10.46
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON They don't! In fact, the Blues do well to work it out of their backline with a good handball chain. Gibbs is the one to shoot for goal on the run, but he misses. Doesn't mean too much now I suppose. Q4 25′ North Melbourne 17.11.113 Carlton 6.10.46
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
Carlton manage to keep possession with a chain of chip-kicks, but soon turn it over on the wing. Based on the way this game has gone, the Roos will put one through now. Q4 24′ North Melbourne 17.11.113 Carlton 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Nahas is taken high about 40 out from dead in front. He's been good tonight and manages to add another major to his name. He's done no harm in trying to cement his spot in the side. Q4 21′ North Melbourne 17.11.113 Carlton 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
It's gonna be hard to give votes here. Such an even team, North. Still about 10 blokes in contention. Q4 20′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON Sam Kerridge tries his luck with a long shot on a slight angle, but it is adjudged to have hit the post upon review. Nice effort. At least the Blues are still having a crack. Q4 18′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.9.45
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON Jed Lamb from 50 on the run burns a teammate and goes himself. Probably shouldn't have. Q4 16′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.8.44
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON Walker receives a pass inside 50 off a lovely kick from Byrne, but his kick falls short and is rushed through off hands. Q4 15′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.7.43
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
The margin is starting to blow out now. When the game was there to be won it was clear to see that North are undoubtedly the better side. Q4 14′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.6.42
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Jarrad Waite! The form forward takes a nice speccie close to goal on Matthew Wright's shoulder. Goes back and converts it without a worry. That will surely hurt the Blues fans. Q4 12′ North Melbourne 16.11.107 Carlton 6.6.42
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON Andrew Walker does well to send the ball inside 50, but a perfect spoil from Macmillan through the posts snuffs any attack out. Q4 9′ North Melbourne 15.11.101 Carlton 6.6.42
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE Lindsay Thomas tries for his fourth, but rushes it after playing on from a mark and pushes it wide. Q4 8′ North Melbourne 15.11.101 Carlton 6.5.41
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
The North Melbourne defence is now one intimidating machine. Plenty of numbers back, as Brad Scott makes sure to keep the Blues' score as low as possible. Q4 7′ North Melbourne 15.10.100 Carlton 6.5.41
Shannon Russell
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Nahas makes it an even 100 points! Just outside 50, straight in front, very close to where Ziebell just kicked his from, and the little man nails it. Q4 4′ North Melbourne 15.10.100 Carlton 6.5.41