Two seasons hang in the balance on as the North Melbourne Kangaroos play host to the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEST).
North Melbourne find themselves 15th on the ladder, but they’ve probably been better than their 4-7 record suggests.
A number of close losses has their season teetering on the edge, but their best is certainly good enough to surprise a few sides (see Adelaide Crows). The Kangaroos had the bye last weekend, but they’ll want to make amends for a lacklustre second half against the Tigers two weeks ago.
The Saints were touted as a finals chance throughout the pre-season, but their performance hasn’t backed up those accolades through the first 12 rounds.
Their 5-6 record is a pretty good indicator of their season to this point, as they’ve mixed some good wins (Greater Western Sydney Giants, Hawthorn Hawks) with some really bad losses (Sydney Swans, Western Bulldogs).
The Saints are staring down the barrel of a fourth straight loss, one that would almost certainly end their season prematurely.
The Kangaroos have only made one change from a fortnight ago, with youngster Ed Vickers-Willis missing this clash with a knee injury. Declan Mountford will come into the side to play his first game at AFL level.
The Saints have made three changes, and they’re all very handy ins. Nick Riewoldt will come back into the side, alongside Luke Dunstan and Jack Lonie. Paddy McCartin and Nathan Wright will both miss through injury, while recruit Jack Steele has been dropped after a number of indifferent performances.
The Saints should have this game on paper, but the Kangaroos have certainly been extremely competitive so far this season. Although both sides face an uphill battle to play in September, a win in this one would be the first step on that journey.
Prediction
There’s a reason the bookies have these two sides at even money: it’s almost impossible to split the two. A braver man would tip a draw, but I’ll go the Saints in a thriller.
St Kilda by 2.
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Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
The Saints have withstood a late North Melbourne rally to record a 17-point victory at Etihad Stadium on Friday Night. It was the Kangaroos fans who had first cheering rights, as Jarrad Waite kicked the first goal of the match after only a couple of minutes. However, they didn't have much more to cheer about from that point forward, as the Saints piled on the next five goals to help build a 16-point quarter time lead. The Saints continued dominating the second quarter, however they were struggling to put the score on the board. Their inaccuracy in front of goal kept the Kangaroos in the contest, and it wasn't until the 18th minute that Tim Membrey kicked their first goal of the second quarter. However, two late goals to Jack Steven helped the Saints build a deserved 38-point lead at the main break. Brad Scott can't have been happy with the Kangaroos first half efforts, especially those of Lachie Hansen, who seemed to be playing sans confidence for much of the first half. Whatever Scott said at half time seemed to work, as the Kangaroos came out a much improved side in the second half. However, they also wasted a lot of opportunities in front of goal in the third quarter, and probably should have been closer than the 36-point deficit they faced at three quarter time. The fourth quarter started well for the Saints, as Tim Membrey kicked a goal within the first minute. After that though, the Kangaroos were all over them, and there was a very slim chance of a major upset midway through the fourth quarter. However, the Saints did enough to hold on for their 17-point win. The win sees the Saints even their ledger at 6-6, but they haven't done much to shake the doubts that many have over them this season. For the Kangaroos, their season is effectively over, as they drop to 4-7.
me too
Roar Rookie
awful game, but we'll take the win and hope we improve next week.
Swannies
Guest
Saints probably ran out of legs in the final 10 minutes. They made a great start so we shouldn't be too harsh on them. The scoreboard flattered North in the end.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME A bit of a troubling final term, but the Saints do enough to record a 17-point victory over the Kangaroos on a Friday Night. FINAL SCORE North Melbourne 10.12 72 St. Kilda 12.17 89 STATS Disposals: Saints 382-377 Free Kicks: Saints 19-17 Clearances: Kangaroos 33-31 Inside 50: Saints 56-49 Contested Possessions: Kangaroos 139-131 Tackles: Saints 71-67 Hit Outs: Kangaroos 38-31 AFL FANTASY TOP 5 1. Sebastian Ross 115 2. Sam Gibson 113 3. Leigh Montagna 111 4. Nick Riewoldt 106 5. Jack Ziebell 106
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 0' Marley Williams dances around a man on the wing, and sends a long kick inside 50. Turner will come in hard for the mark, and he nails the goal. Kangaroos 10.12 72 Saints 12.17 89
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND KANGAROOS 2' Lonie attempts the hanger, but his hands were on the shoulders. The Kangaroos take advantage of the free, but Brown can't finish in the pocket. Kangaroos 9.12 66 Saints 12.17 89
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS 3' Jack Ziebell kicks it straight into Lachie Hansen's face, and Billings should swoop here. He stumbles with the kick, and misses to the right. Kangaroos 9.11 65 Saints 12.17 89
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 4' Ben Brown is given 50, as Jarrad Waite was held back from leading. Surely they couldn't... Kangaroos 9.11 65 Saints 12.16 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 5' North wins the ball out of the middle, and it'll end up with Mason Wood in the pocket. He threads the needle for another goal. Full credit to the Kangaroos, they've toiled away in this last quarter. Kangaroos 8.11 59 Saints 12.16 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS 5' An ugly kick inside 50 from Steven, but it'll work out here. Lonie gets a little kick away, and Gresham will run into an open goal. Kangaroos 7.11 53 Saints 12.16 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND KANGAROOS 6' Higgins with a clean clearance, and he sends it deep inside 50. Waite wins it at ground level, but he can't get his kick online. Kangaroos 7.11 53 Saints 11.16 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 7' Montagna is dispossessed in a tackle, and Hrovat will have another go at goal. He's got this one bending perfectly, and it sneaks through! Kangaroos 7.10 52 Saints 11.16 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
8' The Kangaroos taking the game on here a little more, and they go forward again here. Hrovat will receive a handball from Ben Brown, but he hits the wrong part of the footy and misses everything. Kangaroos 6.10 46 Saints 11.16 82
Swannies
Guest
Saints have been very unlucky tonight...could easily have boosted their percentage with another 5-6 goals. Riewoldt looked great in the 3rd quarter and could be an asset in September if the Saints make it!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL KANGAROOS 9' The Kangaroos manage to hold the ball in from the kick in, and Mullett will finish with a very nice goal off the left boot. Kangaroos 6.10 46 Saints 11.16 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
9' The Kangaroos still toiling away here, but it's just not their night. Garner misses everything from the pocket. Kangaroos 5.10 40 Saints 11.16 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL SAINTS 10' Carlisle chops off a Ziebell kick on the wing, and it'll end up with Bruce marking all by himself inside 50. It looks good off the boot, and Bruce has his second. Kangaroos 5.10 40 Saints 11.16 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND SAINTS 11' The Saints get out on the wing, as the long handball from Gresham will get to Billings. He uses Membrey to go inside 50, and the footy finds Mav Weller's chest 20 from goal. He's missed. Kangaroos 5.10 40 Saints 10.16 76
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
12' The Roos are pressing here, as Waite takes a strong mark at half forward. His centering ball is poor though, and Weller takes a very strong mark ahead of Ziebell. Kangaroos 5.10 40 Saints 10.15 75
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND KANGAROOS 14' The Kangaroos are out here, as Waite handballs long to Brown. He chooses to pass short rather than have a shot, and the Saints will punch away. It's still there for the Kangaroos, but Gibson's kick is touched off the boot. Higgins now attempts to get one on goal, but it bounces away to the left. Kangaroos 5.10 40 Saints 10.15 75