The North Melbourne Kangaroos have stunned the Sydney Swans on Saturday evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground, winning by two points.
Final score
Sydney 9.12 (66)
North Melbourne: 9.14 (68)
The Sydney Swans will host North Melbourne in a Saturday night clash at the SCG. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:25pm AEST.
Full of confidence after a come-from-behind win over Geelong, the Swans showed no Lance Franklin forces their talented forward line to find the ball themselves.
North Melbourne suffered a loss to Port Adelaide last Saturday afternoon and will attempt to get back on the winner’s list in round seven.
It was a reasonable game from the Roos, Ben Brown kicking four goals, but Port steadily kicked away to a 30 point victory throughout the afternoon.
Dean Towers is back for Sydney this week, replacing Dan Robinson (omitted). The versatile tall man will be support for Callum Sinclair in the ruck.
North Melbourne has made three changes going in to this Saturday night clash with Sydney, Sam Wright, Shaun Higgins and Mason Wood have been added to the team of 22.
Majak Daw is out with a foot injury, Jarrad Waite has been rested and Luke Davies-Uniacke was omitted from the Roos’ line up.
The good news story for this week is the return of Sam Wright, 701 days since his last AFL game.
The defender suffered several injury setbacks on the road to recovery, first hurting his right ankle in early 2016.
It is also a big game for Gary Rohan, as he will reach the 100 game milestone in his ninth season of AFL.
Prediction
North Melbourne have shown promise to start this year, but the Swans are firing. Sydney’s two losses for the year have been at home and they will be out to rectify this poor start at home, taking a big win over the Kangaroos.
Sydney Swans by 31 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:25pm AEST.
Chris
Guest
We may have seen the best of Sydney. They may be on the slide. They have had their window of opportunity, their moment in the limelight and blew it. Seems like a drawing board job now!
Kangajets
Guest
Docker Take this in good spirits Keep tipping against north Melb mate , that guarantees the kangas a win ?? I love how people underate north Melbourne
Kangajets
Guest
So true
Perry Bridge
Guest
not sure it was so conclusive as to over turn the call of goal.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Starting to get 'the band' back together. Great to see Sam Wright back, and Mason Wood. Ben Jacobs showed how big a miss he's been. Just need Taylor Garner to make it back - but doubting he will this first half of the season. The improvement in Jed Anderson continues.
Kangajets
Guest
Sydney can’t make the 8 this year
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
North hold on at the SCG The North Melbourne Kangaroos have defeated the Sydney Swans by two points at the SCG on Saturday night. It was an arm wrestle all night, with several lead changes in the last quarter, but North managed to hold on in the dying seconds. The Swans kicked the first two goals to start the final quarter and from there most expected them to run away with the win, as they had seven days earlier against Geelong. A string of behinds by North in the middle of the term cut Sydney’s lead to three, and then Mason Wood’s fourth goal put the Roos in front. Tom Papley had an opportunity to steal the game late, but his set shot was off target, much like most of the kicks by both teams tonight. It was too little too late by the Swans, North holding out for a two point victory away from home. Shaun Higgins (31 disposals, 1 goal) was key to North’s play, finding plenty of the ball in influential positions. The Swans didn’t tag him and many would say that was a big mistake. Mason Wood came in for his first AFL game for 2018 and led the scoring with four goals from 17 disposals, providing a marking presence in the air as well. Josh Kennedy (31 disposals, 9 tackles, 9 clearances) was good for Sydney, as was Will Hayward up forward kicking 3 goals. It wasn't the greatest quality game; disposal efficiency sat around 70 per cent for both teams and was particularly poor in the third quarter. If not for the close contest, more would have switched off. It was low scoring, but thankfully some lead changes made it an exciting finish. The match was not without its controversy either, with the goal review system coming into question again. The automatic review before the ball is bounced in the middle failed to identify a Jarrad McVeigh touch on Billy Hartung's first quarter goal. The main injury concern for the Kangaroos is Ed Vickers-Willis. He came from the ground after a collision with the goal post and ended the game on crutches with his right knee iced. For Sydney, Callum Mills (right ankle) and Josh Kennedy (right leg) both came from the field with injuries, but returned to play out the game. Next up for Sydney is a Friday night clash with Hawthorn at the MCG; the inclusion of Lance Franklin – if he is fit – would headline this fixture. North Melbourne will host reigning premiers and the in-form team, Richmond, at Etihad on Mother’s Day.
Kangajets
Guest
A win for the good guys Good old North Melbourne
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I don't care that my tips are shot,what a great game.Roos and Tigers next week.Tigers will be quaking.
Birdman
Guest
Just a shame this wasn't the FTA game tonight. Hartung's goal will get lots of media attention thru the week. Was the different in the end.
XI
Roar Guru
If any game this season deserved no result, this was probably the one. Just a slog and a half. Teams need to start kicking drills this week because there'll be 100 behind kickers before there's another 100 goal kicker.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
When Sydney kicked the first two goals of the last quarter everyone expected them to run away with it, but North Melbourne kept grinding away as a team and can be extremely pleased with that 2 point win. Wood great with 4 goals and presence in the air, Higgins was everywhere with 31 disposals. Only bad news for the Roos: Vickers-Willis on crutches with ice on his knee after that collision with the goal post.
RooBoy18
Guest
Gutsy win by North! This is worth more than 4 points...what a massive lift this will give the whole team for the rest of the season. Been worth the wait beating the Swans on their own turf! Go the mighty Roos!
Cat
Roar Guru
Sydney now 1-3 at home and 3-0 on the road. This is an odd odd season.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
STATISTICS Goals Sydney: Hayward 3, Towers, Fox, Jones, Lloyd, Parker, Sinclair North Melbourne: Wood 4, Brown, Cunnington, Hartung, Higgins, Simpkin Disposals Sydney: Kennedy 31, Jack 24, Grundy 22 North Melbourne: Higgins 31, Jacobs 29, Anderson 24 Score Sydney: 9.12 66 North Melbourne: 9.14 68
Cat
Roar Guru
Yay north won! Guess swannies will be hiding this week.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Full-Time Wow. North Melbourne defeat the Sydney Swans by 2 points. (probably should have won by more too) Sydney: 66 North Melbourne: 68
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
One final stoppage... Sydney: 66 North Melbourne: 68
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
22 seconds... Sydney: 66 North Melbourne: 68
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Rampe out on the full. Half a chance... Roos to bring it out again. Sydney: 66 North Melbourne: 68