Drew Petrie returned to form and Daniel Wells made a mockery of a pre-game injury scare to help North Melbourne record a 40-point AFL win over Collingwood.
The Kangaroos shored up their place in the top eight and snapped a five-game losing streak in feisty fashion on Friday night, beating the Magpies 18.16 (124) to 12.12 (84).
North’s Lindsay Thomas kicked a game-high five goals – his best haul of the year.
The Kangaroos booted six goals in 14 minutes at Etihad Stadium to boast a 27-point lead at quarter-time.
The Magpies, a man down after Ben Sinclair was knocked out early in an innocuous collision with Jed Anderson, rallied late.
They reduced the margin to 15 points early in the final quarter but couldn’t go on with it.
Wells tallied 11 possessions in the opening term, busting the game open with his dash and clean disposal.
The playmaker limped off the field during the warm-up with an apparent leg injury but passed a late fitness test.
Petrie also starred in a spiteful contest that featured plenty of off-the-ball scraps, bruising contests and verbal spats.
He responded in the best possible fashion to public criticism from club great Wayne Carey, who suggested the 33-year-old’s time was up.
Petrie booted two goals and clutched seven marks but far more impressive was his team-high seven tackles.
The veteran forward wasn’t alone.
The Kangaroos’ pressure was fierce from the outset and there was no let off from Brad Scott’s side.
Collingwood conceded two goals by turning the Sherrin over from kick-ins.
Marley Williams also threatened to gift a cheap goal in the third term, pushing Thomas to the ground after the small forward booted his fourth goal.
Thomas earned the ire of former Western Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy.
“Diving is just not part of our game … if he wanted to stand his ground, he could have. He milked a free kick,” Darcy said on Triple M.
Brent Harvey, who equalled Michael Tuck’s games record, finished with 25 disposals and two goals.
Harvey is set to play his 427th match and break Tuck’s mark on Saturday week, when North face St Kilda at Etihad.
Majak Daw produced a spectacular mark-of-the-year contender in the third term, while Taylor Adams and Scott Pendlebury were among Collingwood’s best.
Sinclair was taken to hospital after suffering his third concussion of the season.
“It was a really good way to start the game, really combative and aggressive. Hard at the ball,” said Scott.
“We knew it was going to be a tough battle and we certainly got that.”
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley lamented his side’s first quarter.
“Our effort was really poor early,” Buckley said.
“We were gallant but you’ve got to give yourself more of a chance by starting better.”
Perry Bridge
Guest
Collingwood - with the quality of Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Treloar, Adams and Blair plus Grundy in good touch in the ruck - it's perhaps surprising that we were so on top for so long. Collingwood had won 3 of 4 since the bye including their best win of the year by far over GWS up in Sydney. That has serious merit. Collingwood certainly tried to come out hard and the quality of the North performance to set up the game in the firsts half has serious merit. After half time, North ahead by 1 pt. As it was - while they rallied - (6.3 to 4.3 in the 3rd term) - it was our awful goal kicking early in the last that was most concerning as we had the opportunities to wrap up the game much earlier than we did - progressing from 14.10 to 14.16 with a couple of gimme goals missed. Creating the opportunities is one thing and finishing off the job is the other. At the end of the night the final burst brought the scoreboard back into balance. 14.10 had been okay. 18.16 was okay. 14.16 was wasteful. 34 scores to 24 and a 40 point win - superficially looks like a comfortable win. Great again to see good signs from Trent Dumont (especially hitting the scoreboard) and Ryan Clarke 3 games in and he's got 21, 22 and 27 disposals. Saw him preseason up at Wangaratta and very much liked what I saw.
Bill
Guest
Haha yep geeenbucks. One good season out of 7 and north when we remained loyal. And he took the money and ran.
Bill
Guest
Yep that's what they said the last two finals series. Muppet.
Bill
Guest
Darcey is an oxygen theif. Not sure why the public bullying of Lindsay is allowed to go in. No difference between him and Goodes.
andrew
Guest
really hoping levi greenwood is enjoying his extra bit of cash and playing a club that gets to clock off the for the season at end of august. totally embarraesd himself last night. tried to do tough stuff when ball not around, but his primary job was to tag wells, and he got towelled up in a momenuntal manner for the night, but especially early on when the game was there to be won. in fact, wells had more footy (let alone more effective) at the 20min mark of 1st q than levi could manage for the entire night. pick 25 not a bad result for a guy who has played half a good season in 7 years of AFL
Big Dallo
Guest
That is exactly what the sceptics will say because if Norf play like that in the finals it will be a swift exit. making up the numbers this year I would say.
RooBoy16
Guest
Very impressive first half from North last night. That had shades of April and May about it...terrific intensity and hardness at the ball. A little concerned about how we let Collingwood back into the game after half-time, but they were always going to come out firing down by almost 40-points. No doubt the sceptics will say it was only Collingwood who we beat, however, they had their season on the line last night and at times, especially in the 3rd quarter, threw everything at North. I think North displayed good composure at the end when Collingwood were coming hard and stuck firm. That was a good sign...If they had lost composure and gone down by a goal I would be very worried. But this win showed some good signs and North can hopefully build something from here with Higgins and Jacobs to return soon.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Get off Lindsay Thomas Darce. Williams was an idiot all night. Both are smarter footballers than he was.