North Melbourne have defeated a terrible St Kilda outfit by 52 points in a scrappy game on Good Friday – a match that was, at times, difficult to watch.
Most pundits were almost unanimously predicting a comfortable win for the Saints, while suggesting North would struggle after their tough trip to Queensland last week. This game, at times, affirmed the latter while conclusively rubbishing the former.
The first half wasn’t pretty, or accurate, or what you’d describe as good football.
North, from the onset, looked determined, but despite having three early shots for goal in as many minutes, couldn’t nail any of their set shots.
The Saints snatched the lead through a goal through Jake Carlisle, but they too began to struggle with goal kicking.
If I’m truthful, both teams began to struggle with kicking full stop. This is a trend that continued through the second quarter – North added two goals, the Saints one more, but at one stage the teams combined for seven consecutive behinds, a North goal, then four more behinds.
The scores were deadlocked at 22 all at half time.
The third quarter was a fork in the road for the teams – they’d either continue with the diabolically low standard of the first, or the game would begin to open up.
I was thinking the team to break away would be the Saints, but I was so very wrong. North’s first few minutes of the third quarter would’ve pleased the strong contingent of fans within Ethiad, booting 3.3 in seven minutes.
The Saints rallied with a trio of goals, but the quarter belonged to the hosts, and they took a 12-point lead into the final break.
All of North’s early problems evaporated in the fourth, absolutely pulverizing the Saints in a terrible quarter from the “potential finalists”. Seven goals to nil, and they took a 52-point lead as the final siren blew.
Winners for the Saints were far and few between. Jimmy Webster (30), David Armitage (27), Jack Steven (26) and Shane Savage (26) accumulated a fair bit of the footy, while Steven tried hard all day and added a goal.
Blake Acres scored a sensational goal – potentially best of the day – in the midst of North’s third-quarter onslaught, but there’s not much else. It was just a poor, poor day for the Saints.
North, however, would be delighted with most of the day – barring their rubbish accuracy in the first half.
Billy Hartung, Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins (24 touches each) were plentiful, whiet Ben Brown (6 goals and 11 touches) was excellent – probably going to get the full allotment of votes in the Charlie.
Luke Davies-Uniacke with 16 disposals outshined his Saints youngster counterpart in Hunter Clark (7).
St Kilda hosts the Crows at home next weekend, which would make them very, very nervous I imagine. North head to the MCG to play the Demons, which suddenly becomes intriguing.
North Melbourne 13.17 (95)
St Kilda 6.13 (43)
Davo
Guest
Jacobs was fantastic. They probably would have won of a few of those close ones last year with him in the side. I was impressed with Anderson besides that shocking set shot. His playing for his future after frankly being a dud over the last two years.
Kangajets
Guest
Spot on mark
Mark
Guest
Relax Kanga. I think there are a few people here rubbing their swollen butts over their predictions about how North would go this year being far from reality
Mark
Guest
It’s pathetic. North played Friday night when no-one else wanted to. Now, fans of other clubs whinge when North gets Friday night games. Now, North play on Good Friday when no-one else wanted to, and we get the same whinging from fans of other clubs. How many people showed up at the G today on a perfect day for the supposedly best supported club in the country. I had a peek on my way to Victory vs WSW and it didn’t look like any more than showed up yesterday.
Kangajets
Guest
Docker You are being honest but harsh . I’ve seen Fremantle play many worse games. You will see a lot more bad games this year , if that’s your opinion. Anyhow The kangaroos were intense for 4 quarters, their kicking was astray for the first half . But with Jacobs back , uniscke davies and brown , the future is brighter .
Kangajets
Guest
well Said cat Raising money for charity is vital Philanthropy rather then blockbuster occasionally is fine Some fans of teams are feeling too entitled I believe
Kangajets
Guest
Jacobs was fantastic, boy we have missed him
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
How much did they end up raising? I recall mentioning in the blog that donating would make you feel good, moreso than watching the dour game!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I dont think there was anyone who deserved 3 votes in that game. Probably true, but Brown stood up where it mattered for North and 6 goals is much more effort than anyone else on the ground. I'd struggle to suggest anyone else who'd get three votes. Hartung, or Waite, maybe?
Cat
Roar Guru
I would have thought the second consecutive record amount raised for the Good Friday Appeal would be an outstanding 'advertisement' for playing the game.
Cat
Roar Guru
Just need to be the fairest and best on the day. There is no minimum accomplishment required.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Ben Brown (6 goals and 11 touches) was excellent – probably going to get the full allotment of votes in the Charlie. Would've thought you might need to do a little more than play more than one half of football to get the votes. Compare that with the Dees v Cats game where Selblett or Gawn could've got the same three votes for a much higher and consistent performance, shows the inequality in the brownlow voting. I dont think there was anyone who deserved 3 votes in that game. Hartung was more consistent through the game which was full of basic skill errors to say nothing of easy set shots missed. St Kilda's stars are still not good enough to rise to the occasion and stamp there authority on the game when the rest of the team are under performing. Hopefully the comedy of errors for St Kilda are just an early season aberration otherwise they have no chance of a finals birth this year.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Good warm up for the Melboune Cup next week.
mattyb
Guest
If the AFL must play games on Good Friday they can at least attempt to do it properly? 34k crowd to a stand alone game,on a public holiday,on a perfect autumn afternoon is a very poor advertisement for our game nationally.
RooBoy18
Guest
Great to see Jacobs back! What a difference he makes.