Friday night footy comes to Tassie for the first time as the ladder-leading North Melbourne Kangaroos host the resurgent Richmond Tigers. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
North Melbourne’s barnstorming start to the season continued well past its expected use-by-date, although last week in Sydney they finally succumbed to a loss.
Many have been unfairly talking down the Roos, and those doubters will be looking for another loss tonight as a sign they’re cracking.
Brad Scott hasn’t been as happy with North’s form as their 9-1 record would suggest, and so a comfortable win tonight would go a long way to getting things back on track.
Richmond suffered anything but an unbeaten run to start the year, but consecutive wins against Sydney, Fremantle and Essendon have them raring to go for the second half of the season.
Like seasons past, the Tigers looked woeful as they spluttered to a 1-6 beginning, but with seemingly no warning they’ve turned it back on.
On their day, Richmond can ride with anyone, and if they notch a fourth straight win tonight then the yellow and black bandwagon will really start to roll.
North Melbourne have dominated Richmond of late, winning six of the last seven contests, including last year’s elimination final. The only loss in that mix came with the Kangas playing a second-string side.
North’s record in Hobart is also very strong; they’ve won eight of ten at their home away from home, including the last seven on the trot.
Prediction
Richmond have had their hot and cold streaks over the years, and this match will define whether the current run is just a flash in the pan or another Tiger revival.
But North Melbourne have been building a mini-fortress down in Hobart, and sitting at 9-1 they should start the favourites in this one.
Kangaroos by 23 points
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Are North flat track bullies?
Brinnx
Guest
And that's all she wrote for the tigers this year. Hardwick already talking about playing youngsters next week, not that he will have much choice after the injuries from this game. If the Saints and Pies get knocked over this week the race for the 8 is down to 11 teams, but in reality I think its probably already set.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Majak Daw seems to have improved, although it has to be said it is pretty easy to play well when you are playing in a dominant team.
Perry Bridge
Guest
A very nice win - North a bit more fluent and played with a bit more dare again - and similar to the Carlton game getting an 11-12 goal win, and holding the opposition to sub 60 pts. The Swans game a bit of an aberration but to be able to come out of that with Goldstein having a rest and Majak Daw getting a full game in the ruck - didn't seem to matter much that Hampson dominate hit outs (in quantity) - North had the best centre clearances.
Lroy
Guest
If they played that game at Etihad they get at least double that amount... Jesus the Western Farce in the rugby can pull 10,000 each week and they are the worst team in the whole comp. I dont see 17,000 for a Friday night game (supposedly the showcase game of the round) to be anything to get excited about... frankly I think its an embarrassment.
Stirling Coates
Editor
NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Daniel Wells (NM) - This man is the reason North are that extra bit better this year. 30 touches, seven tackles, five clearances and three goals. Gives the Kangas some class on the outside they've lacked over the last few years. 2 VOTES - Andrew Swallow (NM) - His 28 touches, 11 tackles and ten clearances look good, but when you consider North lost the hit-out count 62-28, they look great. 1 VOTE - Nick Dal Santo (NM) - Superb form off half back, collecting 33 touches at 82% effectiveness, as well as eight tackles and a goal.
Stirling Coates
Editor
NORTH MELBOURNE v RICHMOND FULL TIME REPORT North Melbourne - 18.16 (124) Richmond - 7.12 (54) GOAL KICKERS Kangaroos: Harvey 4, Wells 3, Thomas 2, Wood 2, Atley, Petrie, Dal Santo, Daw, Brown, Macmillan, Cunnington Tigers: Riewoldt 2, Vickery 2, Deledio, Lloyd, Miles DISPOSAL LEADERS Kangaroos: Dal Santo 33, Wells 30, Ziebell 30 Tigers: Grigg 38, Cotchin 34, Miles 31 TEAM STATS Disposals: Kangaroos 381, Tigers 366 Contested Possessions: Kangaroos 158, Tigers 143 Tackles: Kangaroos 90, Tigers 57 Inside 50s: Kangaroos 72, Tigers 41 Clearances: Tigers 42, Kangaroos 35
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds on what ended up being a non-event of a final quarter. North Melbourne set themselves up nicely with a barnstorming start and never looked back. They win by 70 points on a Friday night. For Richmond, they've come back to earth with a shattering thud after winning three in a row, with injuries to Dylan Grimes, Steven Morris, Nick Vlaustin and Ben Griffiths sure to be a talking point. NM - 18.16 (124) RCH - 7.12 (54) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND KANGAROOS Brent Harvey drops a short kick inside 50 to the lead of Drew Petrie. With the clock winding down and the game over he elects to have the shot from just outside 50. Or so we all through. Instead he stabs it a little closer to goal and Lindsay Thomas takes the mark. Leans back into the kick from 30 out and pushes it out to the far side. NM - 18.16 (124) RCH - 7.12 (54) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
A large contingent of tonight's bumper crowd have left the ground a little early. No doubt seeking the warmth of their homes given the contest has been well and truly over for some time. NM - 18.15 (123) RCH - 7.12 (54) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL KANGAROOS Majak Daw with a rare hit-out to advantage, but it's a beauty. Straight into the path of Daniel Wells, and he unleashes a ripping snap on the run that curls its way home. NM - 18.15 (123) RCH - 7.12 (54) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND TIGERS Nick Dal Santo's handball across goal is a bit of a hospital variety, but Luke McDonald is so close to goal when he's tackled he ends up over the line. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 7.12 (54) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND TIGERS Dustin Martin gets a weak kick towards goal off the outside of the boot and Michael Firrito is able to swat it over the line. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 7.11 (53) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sam Wright emerging from the North Melbourne rooms on crutches. Not a good look. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 7.10 (52) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL TIGERS Dean Rioli takes the leaping mark on 50 following a penetrating kick from Shane Edwards. His kick to the run of Anthony Miles is poor, but Miles is able to gather, straighten up and kick a well-deserved goal. He's been a lone light for Richmond tonight with 30 touches, nine clearances and now a goal. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 7.10 (52) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
17,844 people at Blundstone Arena tonight. Fantastic crowd for a ground that supposedly only holds 16,200. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 6.10 (46) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
66-36 the inside 50 count in North Melbourne's favour, including tallies of 20-7 in the first quarter and 23-7 in the third quarter. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 6.10 (46) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND KANGAROOS Ben Brown tries for a second goal, but his set shot from 45 out drops short before bouncing into the post. NM - 17.15 (117) RCH - 6.10 (46) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Bitterly disappointing to see Richmond barely give a yelp in this final quarter. They've been embarrassed on national television for three quarters, and with the sting well and truly out of the game they've not got themselves back into it at all. NM - 17.14 (116) RCH - 6.10 (46) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND KANGAROOS Lindsay Thomas lets go the straightest horizontal ball off the boot I've ever seen. Seam over seam. Falls short and Robin Nahas is able to pick it up but his snap from five out misses. NM - 17.14 (116) RCH - 6.10 (46) Q4: 12'