With a misfiring forward line and the toughest run-in of any likely AFL finalist, North Melbourne’s 2016 hopes are shot, right?
Not so, according to coach Brad Scott, despite the Kangaroos’ latest setback against the Western Bulldogs.
At Etihad Stadium on Saturday night the Kangaroos looked second best all night, losing by 14 points in a low-scoring affair.
Worse, key forward Ben Brown sustained a knee complaint that could see him join fellow spearhead Jarrad Waite (hip) in their treatment room.
The Kangaroos can ill-afford another missing senior player, with 10 first-teamers already on their injury list.
Scott wouldn’t be drawn on Brown’s diagnosis, saying only team doctors were “cautiously optimistic” on his availability.
Scott Thompson also didn’t play the last quarter as he received treatment for a groin issue, which Scott said was purely precautionary.
Given what’s up next the Kangaroos would want to have their physios working overtime.
They face reigning premiers Hawthorn at the MCG next weekend, second-placed Sydney in Hobart and then fourth-placed GWS Giants at Etihad in round 23.
Rather than be daunted by the fixture list, Scott said playing four top-eight sides in their final month was exactly the preparation for finals he wanted.
“We’ll learn a fair bit out of tonight. What we need to improve on,” he said.
“Win, lose or draw the next three weeks we’re going to get some really good evidence where we need to improve and what we’re doing well.
“Sometimes theres a bit of fools gold when you have a big win.
“Tonight I thought we were outplayed. We’ll go back and look at that. We’re going to get that sort of thing the next three weeks.”
While outplayed, the low-scoring nature of the contest meant two quick goals in the last quarter gave North a chance to nick it.
When Todd Goldstein goalled, North were 14 points down and had all the momentum with seven minutes to go.
“When the margin’s that tight we always feel like you’re a chance … we certainly felt that way,” he said.
“We had our opportunities.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What teams are beating top 4 sides with 2-3 key position players missing?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Kind of like Sydney being rolled by North last year when they couldn't really handle the loss of Franklin and Jack? People in glass houses...
Mike
Guest
Spot on! Good teams, top 4 teams will find a way to rise against adversity and win. At full strength North can match it against anyone, but then so can most teams. They have proven this year that they do not have the depth required to be a top team. As for our coach, he is dilusionall. I stopped watching his after game press conferences weeks ago. He's like a broken record. Does not have the balls to make the hard decisions and drop veterans not performing and doesn't know how to stem the flow when the opposition get a run on. Petrie, Dal Santo, Harvey, Thompson and Firrito need to give it away to make way for youth. A new era. A few home truths need to be laid down to our captain and vice captain also. Swallow and Ziebell have not had good seasons. Ziebell in particularly has been a real disappointment.
Swannies
Guest
Injuries should have nothing to do with North's current form...look at how Doggies and Hawks have coped. The great sides tend to rise above any set-backs and soldier on. When North had their best 22 out on the paddock against the struggling teams all was good. But take out 2 or 3 key-position players they will always be found wanting against the top-4 sides. I sensed North were always going to have a good start to 2016 and bank as many wins as quickly as possible before being tested mid-season. Only injuries have derailed their plans further and triggered an irreparable slide. All I seem to be hearing from their coach is "their best is still to come" or "when we get more players back"...a clear indication Scott does not have 100% confidence in his squad's depth and is banking on Jacobs and Higgins slotting straight back in.
andrew
Guest
this article slightly exaggertes the extent of injuries at present. i think north are only missing 7 of their best 22. wood, waite, higgins, mc donald, garner, wright, jacobs, higgings. ben brown makes that 8. but, the reality is, north have 2 games against other top 8 sides, and there in round 1 and round 6 against the crows and dogs. the dogs win was a dour game and won basically on the back of some indiviaual brilliance from jarrad waite with contested marking inside 50. waite kicked 4 that night and north won by 2 goals. they lost by 2 goals last night without waite. the recruiting at north has been very good. i have no issue with the recruitment of dal santo, higgins and waite. we have not traded draft picks to get them. they have all played well. north got these players who take up a spot on the list in liue of basically what would have been their last pick in the draft. so, if someone wants to tell me who got taken at pick 85 (or whatever pick north first passed) in the draft years these players were recruited and tell my why north missed a chance to get so and so, happy to hear it. i would accept that the other limb to consider is whether paying these players meant others left. levi greenwood is the only player here, and no regrets on that move right now.
Mike
Guest
As a North supporter I tend to agree with everything you stated Swannies bar one. The Waite deal did not backfire. We got him for virtually nothing and his performance last year (particularly the Elimination & Semi Finals) more than paid back investment, irrespective of this year
Swannies
Guest
North simply have no depth to cover key-injured players. Coach is playing an optimistic card but knows his team is shot heading into the finals. North are always punching above their weight in finals and they know it. Teams like Swans and Cats are a class above. The gamble with Waite has backfired and a reluctance to trade some of the older stars will force North to rebuild sooner rather than later. This Will be north's last finals for for a few years(if they make it)...maybe 2020 will see North as contenders.