The Sydney Swans took a nine-point win over the North Melbourne Kangaroos in Hobart on Saturday, moving temporarily at least to the top of the AFL ladder.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
North Melbourne 10.16.76
Sydney 12.13.85
It’s do or die for the North Melbourne Kangaroos: a win stamps their ticket to September, but a loss puts in them in grave peril. Standing in their way? The red-hot Sydney Swans. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
The chance that North might miss the finals has been known for some time, but with a fortnight to play that chance has become a distinct possibility.
Melbourne will need to defeat the Cats in Geelong for the Roos to be ousted, but should they drop their remaining two games they’ll be watching that clash very nervously.
The Roos’ woes against top-eight sides continued last week, as they were blown out of the water very early by Hawthorn, losing by 39 points and falling to 2-7 against top eight sides in 2016.
A loss here will put them in a perilous position.
Sydney, on the other hand, have hit form at the right time of year.
After an iffy run that saw them lose three of five, before only narrowly defeating Carlton at home, the Swans’ chances of doing damage in September looked slim.
But they’ve turned it on since then, absolutely demolishing Fremantle, Port Adelaide and St Kilda the manner of a hungry contender.
With the top two likely to be decided on percentage, Sydney will be looking to slam their foot on the pedal all afternoon.
North Melbourne’s record in Hobart is formidable, with the club winning eight straight and nine of 11 overall. Sydney were, however, the last team to defeat the Kangaroos in Tasmania, triumphing by 39 points in 2013.
Sydney have won ten of the last 12 contests between these sides, including North’s first loss of the year in Round 10, although North did bundle the Swans out of September last year in the semi-final.
Prediction
As good as North Melbourne have been in Hobart, Sydney have played there before and won convincingly.
There’s a lot to play for both sides, and with a gale-force wind of form at their backs, the Swans should be too good.
Swans by 28 points
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I'm genuinely concerned that St Kilda will have the required 200 point win to knock us out...
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Mike, you are correct. But the truth is that Norths and 4 or 5 other sides in Melb belong in the VFL permanently, at least based on what the last 30 years has demonstrated about that group of clubs. Swans stand out as a club that has sustained success in the modern AFL comp. As all in Victoria will do when the Hawks or Geelong or the other few successful clubs down there “get the job done” against “whomever they are presented with to play”…………….we Swans fans will tic off Saturday’s win, put it in the bank and move on. Surreptitious analysis of the Swans mediocrity as above (aka wishful anti interstate thinking) is irrelevant. The ladder and the percentage rankings are the only thing that matters at this point. That shows Swans superiority over most and the equal of the very best on their day That is all a fan can ask, thank you.
Mike
Guest
Over the four quarters North were the better side. Poor disposal and kicking let them down, but hey that's bad football. If was a Swans supporter Swannies, I would be more concerned that a team that sits on top of the ladder struggled to beat an almost half VFL side. North were missing 10 of their best players if I am not mistaken. I would suggest the Swans need to lift their game if they are to successfully challenge for the premiership
Maggie
Guest
Is it really only last 400 times? Seems like more than that!
Swannies
Guest
North fans should be worried heading into the finals. At worst they could miss out altogether, at best they will be sitting ducks for GWS or possibly West Coast. Their so called fortress Blundstone has been trashed by the bloods and their is nowhere for them to hide anymore. Go the mighty Swans!
Big Dallo
Guest
Swans played at 50% and got the job done down their in van demons land. Even the umps gave everything for north to win but to no effect. A loss coming up next week to Richmond who have beaten us the last 400 times won't be too bad heading into the week off.
Stirling Coates
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report NORTH MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Brent Harvey (NM) - Did everything he possibly could to will his side over the line, collecting 32 touches, six marks, five tackles and kicking three crucial goals. 2 VOTES - Dan Hannebery (SYD) - Carried the Swans all afternoon, racking up a game-high 33 disposals, five inside 50s and two big goals - including the match-sealer. 1 VOTE - Andrew Swallow (NM) - An admirable performance from the skipper in defeat, notching 27 touches and winning seven clearances, while laying a game-high 14 tackles.
Swannies
Guest
Great result all round! Swans now in top place and looking more likely to make the GF. Victory in a close/tight game is just what Sydney needed as they approach the finals. Sydney still managed to win playing well below their best while everything went right for North. This also means Melbourne can still snatch a finals place off North!
Stirling Coates
Editor
NORTH MELBOURNE v SYDNEY SWANS FULL TIME REPORT North Melbourne - 10.16 (76) Sydney Swans - 12.13 (85) GOAL KICKERS Kangaroos: Harvey 3, Dal Santo 2, Brown 2, Goldstein, Petrie, McKenzie Swans: Rohan 2, McVeigh 2, Hannebery 2, Lloyd, Hewett, Papley, McGlynn, Heeney, Kennedy DISPOSAL LEADERS Kangaroos: Harvey 26, Dal Santo 25, Wells 23 Swans: Parker 28, Kennedy 25, Hannebery 25 TEAM STATS Disposals: Kangaroos 408, Swans 357 Contested Possessions: Kangaroos 159, Swans 154 Tackles: Kangaroos 71, Swans 70 Inside 50s: Kangaroos 63, Swans 49 Clearances: Kangaroos 37, Swans 33
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds on a gripping afternoon of football in Hobart. North Melbourne's ticket to September will need to wait until next week to get stamped - Sydney triumph by nine points in a thriller. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.13 (85) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
Heath Grundy cuts off the long kick-in and that will be game over. North Melbourne will rue their missed chances today. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.13 (85) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND SWANS Long kick from Jarrad McVeigh inside forward 50 is marked very well in a contest by Xavier Richards, and he's more looking to take time off the clock rather than kick a score. He misses to the near side, but North Melbourne now need two goals in 39 seconds. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.13 (85) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Very often with smaller North Melbourne players having long shots for goal, Ben Brown, Drew Petrie and Majak Daw have stood dead still at full forward, they've needed to work harder for each other. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sydney getting all the numbers back now. North Melbourne moving the ball well up the ground but they've had to slow down several times with nobody to kick to. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
The equation becoming a little bit more difficult for North Melbourne now - needing two goals in four minutes. They've wasted a few chances today, that might be what does them in. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Sydney looking for that killing blow, North Melbourne in need of two quick ones. The clock might beat them both. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND KANGAROOS Jack Ziebell gathers the crumbs inside 50 for North Melbourne, but with time and space his snap across the body is across the face. NM - 10.16 (76) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
16,495 people at Blundstone Arena this afternoon. Great crowd in the Tasmanian capital. NM - 10.15 (75) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Brent Harvey has been close to best on ground this afternoon with 31 disposals and three goals. Would love to have his last shot at goal back though - right now that's the biggest momentum shift of the game. NM - 10.15 (75) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Ben Brown has possession with his opponent Dane Rampe slipping over, but his attempted handball over the back to Drew Petrie is so bad that Rampe has time to stand up and pick it off. The trio of Petrie, Brown and Daw has just not worked for North Melbourne today. NM - 10.15 (75) SYD - 12.12 (84) Q4: 10'