North Melbourne have had some heartbreaking results over the first five weeks of the season, but their loss to Fremantle will rank as the worst by far.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Fremantle Dockers 9.13.67
North Melbourne Kangaroos 9.8.62
The Fremantle Dockers‘ season is suddenly alive and well after two consecutive victories, and they’ll be looking to make it three in a row when they host the winless North Melbourne Kangaroos. Join The Roar for all the action and analysis from Domain Stadium from 7:40pm (AEST).
After opening the season with two losses, Fremantle looked like heading down a similar path to their 2016 horror show, and coach Ross Lyon was under the pump.
Fast forward two weeks, and the Dockers have evened up their season to 2-2, with last week’s thrilling win over Melbourne a case study in never giving in.
The Dockers trailed by 27 points nearing half time, and after clawing their way back in front, surrendered the lead in the dying minutes, but a Cam McCarthy toe-poke on the goal line was enough for a memorable victory.
Even playing poorly, Fremantle are always hard to beat at home, and against a North Melbourne outfit that can’t take a trick at the moment, they’ll back themselves to secure their third win on the trot.
North Melbourne were predicted to slide this season following their mass culling of senior players, including club legend Brent Harvey, in the off-season, but despite four losses to start the season, North fans can take plenty of positives out of defeat.
Youngsters Jy Simpkin and Kayne Turner have been exciting, Robbie Tarrant has been solid in defence, and Braydon Preuss’ form has, unthinkably, given rise to the thought ruck ace Todd Goldstein could be traded.
Preuss has been rested this week, though, which means Goldstein will go it alone against ruck behemoth Aaron Sandilands – but the big man does some of his best work when rucking solo, and will no doubt relish the opportunity.
The future is all well and good, but in the now, North fans would be frustrated by their team having thrown away two gilt-edged winning opportunities this season.
A one-point loss to Geelong in Round 2 was galling, but their Good Friday loss to the Western Bulldogs was just as heartbreaking, the Roos blowing a five-goal lead early in the third quarter to lose by just three points.
Lindsay Thomas had the chance to win the match, his 200th, with just seconds remaining, but his 50-metre kick was narrowly offline, adding insult to injury for both fans and players.
Emerging youngster Mason Wood has been named for his first match of the season after injuring his hamstring in the pre-season, while defender Ed Vickers-Willis will make his debut.
Prediction
The Roos haven’t been the easybeats some people predicted in the pre-season, and really should be 2-2, or at least 1-3, by now. However, the Dockers at home is always a challenge, and Freo’s red-hot form should see them chalk up their third consecutive win.
Fremantle by 27 points
Bradley Hill has been an excellent performer for the Dockers since crossing from Hawthorn in the off-season, and the pacy winger will want to make his 100th game one to remember.
Can Hill and his midfield comrades make his milestone match one to remember? Or will Jack Ziebell’s Kangaroos spoil the party in the west?
Tune into The Roar from 7:40pm (AEST) for a rolling blog and all the news from the ground, and remember to leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Johno is back to his 2015 form before he did his hammy. If he stays on the park for the full season we may just make the 8
Don Freo
Guest
5 more scoring shots is a fairly accurate indication that Freo was better on the day. Given an equal adjudication of holding rules, NM would have scored about 3 goals...if they were lucky. It was a wonderful defensive effort.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Yes I think if you're in front at the end then you've (fairly obviously) done enough to be deserving of winning. Or at least the other team didn't do enough. But in a game where it comes down to the last goal you can easily say either team would be a deserving winner. North would have been a deserving winner had they held on last night, I think often where teams comes from behind in this fashion, with a quickish flurry of goals after getting a fair way behind then the sentiment is normally that if they win in the last minute they are perhaps less deserving and have 'stolen' it. Even if you were the better team for 3/4 of a match, if you can't hold on to a lead then it's hard to say whether one team lost the game or one team won it. It's always a combination of both. There is so many things that happen in every game that lead to the final outcome and when the siren sounds if you're in front then you must have done enough!
Don Freo
Guest
He played in the ruck, ran through half forward and was the rebound defender. You are talking about a Daniel Talia/Zac Dawson negating type. A 5 to 10 possession player. Johnson didn't play on the last line. These were 26 telling possessions. 73% does not mean that 27% went directly to the opposition...it means that 20 of them went directly to a team mate...or scored a goal.
Slane
Guest
Brilliant for a midfielder. Most key defenders generally go at +90%. You can't turn the ball over when you are the last person between the opposition and the goals.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
You can call it from the first bounce. North are hopeless all insert name here have to do is wait.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Great spirit RB17, I don't know about you, but for me for Freo and the Kangas it's not really about 2017, but about years to come and what the Roos have shown is terrific and should have you feeling pretty good about where they're going.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I say this all the time, but there is no "deserve". Goals are scored all the way through games and who's to say which have more value than others? At the end of the day, there's only the final tally.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Welllll we could easily say if North had won they would've pinched it too.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I came to feel so assured whenever it went in Mundy's vicinity, especially in the second half it always seemed like he would find a way to win it for Freo.
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
It should be great! Can't believe we are 3-2...incredible!
Balthazar
Guest
I love how Brad Scott is asked about 2 decisions where the ball went over the boundary line - in one Freo was given a free, in the other the ball was thrown in. Peter Bell was also nonplussed in the post-game commentary. Hello??? Anybody? What about the numerous decisions given in favour of Norths in the first half, especially the second quarter, which led to several shots on goals - jumpers held, holding etc. Meanwhile, North players were riding McCarthy and co like rodeo bulls down the other end... Once again, Sandi pays the "height penalty" when Goldy can manhandle him however he sought fit. The umpiring was a disgrace. The game wouldn't have been so close without it. That aside, Norths' back 6 are very good. And Mundy and Fyfe are the best "clutch" duo in the AFL at the moment.
Don Freo
Guest
7 in total.
Don Freo
Guest
Only 73%? That's brilliant.
Tim Miller
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report Fremantle 9.13 (67)
pinch onedefeated North Melbourne 9.8 (62) GOALS Fremantle- Langdon 2, Logue, Crozier, Kersten, Grey, McCarthy, B. Hill, Johnson. North Melbourne- Turner, Brown, Simpkin, Wood, Goldstein, Hrovat, Atley, Cunnington, Dumont. BEST Fremantle- Johnson, S. Hill, Sandilands, Fyfe, B. Hill. North Melbourne- Cunnington, Macmillan, Williams, Mullett, Tarrant.Brett
Guest
WTF that idiot number 30 umpire was personally responsible for 50% of North Melbournes score He is an absolute bloody disgrace and should have egotistical arse kicked of the panel Get bloody rid of the tosser
Tim Miller
Editor
Well, North lose another heartbreaker, and the Dockers win another thriller. They move to 3-2 and their season is well and truly back on track, while the Roos slump to 0-5 alongside Sydney. Really, they should be 3-2 or at the worst, 2-3, but they've let games slip in the dying minutes. Horlin-Smith kicked the winner with a minute on the clock in Round 2 against Geelong, Lindsay Thomas missed the winner on the siren against the Bulldogs, and now, Kersten broke North hearts with the last-minute winner. Anyway, that's it from me tonight. Fremantle win by 5 points, and like an aggressive aunt presented with a baby's cheek, they pinched it. Night all. Congratulations, Freo fans, and North fans...if you're still on this page and reading, then I applaud you.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I'm a Crows fan but I've had a soft spot for the Kangas ever since Malcolm Blight played for them. Got to feel really sorry for the North players and the supporters at the moment losing so many tight games. But the signs a really good that you have a team that is competitive and fight their way to the bitter end. The rub of the green will surely turn your way soon.
Tim Miller
Editor
Fremantle: M. Johnson, three votes. A bit contentious, I know, but it was a match with no real standouts, and Johnson was fantastic in a key role on the back line. He was back to his very best, zoning off his opponent and giving his fellow defenders a chop out, and his rebounding work was top-notch. 26 touches from a key defender is a terrific effort, and while he only went at 73 per cent, it felt like he was the one keeping North at bay when they were surging late in the second and early in the third. And then to cap it off, he went forward in the dying minutes and kicked the goal that brought Freo back to within a kick.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
And we've got the the derby next week. I'm pumped for that game!