The Brisbane Lions can take some positives from their tenth loss of the season, despite going down to a red-hot North Melbourne Kangaroos by 54 points at Etihad Stadium.
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Final score
North Melbourne Kangaroos 21.15 (141)
Brisbane Lions 12.15 (87)
The North Melbourne Kangaroos are rising up the AFL ladder and will look to make it three straight when they take on the struggling Brisbane Lions. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm (AEST).
North Melbourne have been on a roll in the last month, moving themselves up the ladder to now sit in fifth spot.
They have won three of their last four and the last two in a row, with the only loss in that period coming in a gallant effort against Richmond, with the Kangaroos only going down by ten against the defending premiers.
Around that, they have recorded wins over the Sydney Swans, Greater Western Sydney Giants and Fremantle Dockers, with the last two being comfortable – by 43 and 28 points.
Brad Scott has his team firing on all cylinders, dominating the midfield and allowing their front men to play strongly. Their kicking, both in general play and in front of goals has become somewhat accurate, with the two standouts being Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite.
They have kicked 55 goals between them across the first ten rounds, with Waite going scoreless only twice and Brown once. Their consistency has been a big advantage for the Kangaroos with good form also shown by the likes of Jack Ziebell and Mason Wood.
The Lions, on the other hand, are battling big time. After losing their first eight to get the new season underway, the Brisbane-based club pulled off a shock thumping of Richmond in Round 9.
The victory might have got them off the bottom of the table, but they were back to their usual script last week, falling to the Sydney Swans by 18 points.
Brisbane’s performance saw them kick just six goals to go with 13 behinds, where as, they made the most of their opportunities in the loss to Richmond.
The number of opportunities Brisbane are getting on average is far less than most of the front-running clubs are getting though and while the Richmond game was a bright spot on the radar, it doesn’t look like there are many more on the way.
In shutting down North Melbourne, midfielders Dayne Zorko and Dayne Beams are the key, but they need to lift right around the ground.
Prediction
North Melbourne have been on a roll and are back at home for this Sunday afternoon fixture. They should comfortably make it three straight.
Kangaroos by 26.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Round 11 AFL fixture from 1:10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Mediocre? You picked the Lions to win
Kangajets
Guest
disagree Worst season ever in my 46 years Hardly any close games at all Really interesting time , too many teams imo
Kangajets
Guest
Enjoyable for north Hang in there lions fans ..
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries mate. Brissie definitely had a good second half there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this afternoon on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 AFL season as the North Melbourne Kangaroos demolished the Brisbane Lions by 54 points. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. It's now time to join either Stuart Thomas for the Pies and Dockers, or shortly, Sarah Wildy for Adelaide and GWS. Bye for now.
Paul D
Roar Guru
No regrets umpiring cricket today At the game next week v Essendon so hopefully I see something closer. Another match like the Collingwood one would be great
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Brisbane Lions can take some positives from their tenth loss of the season, despite going down to a red-hot North Melbourne Kangaroos by 54 points at Etihad Stadium. While the Lions came out of the gates in the contest, they blew some early opportunities in front of goals, their first four shots all going through as behinds. At the other end of the ground, North Melbourne had no such problems and with the Brisbane defence going downhill all the time, the Kangaroos would kick five first-quarter goals to take a 33-point lead into the second. Brisbane managed to get their first major shortly after quarter time, but things didn't improve for them, as they went into halftime down by 55 points. They copped three injuries during the first half as well with Allen Christensen, Charlie Cameron and Hugh McCluggage all unable to take part in the second half for Brisbane. The 55-point lead for the 'Roos was built their excellent mid-field play. From nearly every stoppage and bounce, they dominated with Shaun Higgins (38 disposals), Luke McDonald (34 disposals), Paul Ahearn (29 disposals) and Ben Cunnington (28 disposals) leading the way. Their dominant play in midfield meant the defensive line of the Lions opened up with ease. By the end of the contest, the Kangaroos had 14 different goal scorers, although no one in particular stood out as Jack Ziebell put on three to lead the way. The Lions accuracy in front of goal continued to hurt them in the first half, but they put in a much stronger second half, actually winning it by a point with the eventual margin being 54. Dayne Beams led the way, kicking five second-half goals and leading his side for dispoals with 32. Without their injured players and reduced to just a single rotation, the fatigued Lions put on some impressive runs to at times, shut the gap to within 40. Kangaroos coach Brad Scott would have been marginally disappointed with his side's inability to shut down the Lions, with the all important percentage, while still improving, not going up quite as far as it maybe should have. The Lions slump to one and ten from their first eleven games, while the Kangaroos continue their charge at the top four on the back of three straight wins. North Melbourne take on Geelong in what should be a cracking contest away from home next week while Brisbane host Essendon at the Gabba. Final score Kangaroos 21.15 (141) Lions 12.15 (87)
Stev0
Guest
You mean that mediocre opposition that lost by only 18 points last week? Where was the Swans 20 goal win that your speaking of? Good win North.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Thanks for the call Scott. Good result for the mighty 'roos but Brissie fought hard, got lots of good young players.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Goals really shared around for the Roos this afternoon. They had 14 different scorers, with Jack Ziebell kicking three as their leading scorer. Dayne Beams had five for the Lions in a gallant second half. He also led disposals with 32 for Brisbane.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME The Lions immediately work it forward from the bounce. Beams takes a diving mark about 50 metres out and will take a shot after the siren. It's no good as Daw comes up with the mark. The Kangaroos win this by 54! Huge performance from North Melbourne this afternoon, destroying the Lions through the first half and then maintaining their big gap through the second half. A really difficult afternoon for Brisbane, who copped three injuries in a shocking first half. They stood up during the second half though, keeping things together somewhat and playing a much better half of footy to close the game. North Melbourne have now won three straight and continue their charge towards the top four, with Shaun Higgins, Jack Ziebell, Ben Brown and Ben Cunnington among their best. Paul Ahearn with 29 disposals and four inside 50s also had a superb return from injury. Kangaroos 21.15 (141) Lions 12.15 (87)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 0' - GOAL LIONS, DAYNE BEAMS Beams is having a good day. The Lions work it up the right-hand side, then Taylor marks just outside the 50. He kicks inside for the goal square and after a spoil, Beams comes up with it and snaps back across his body for yet another goal. Kangaroos 21.15 (141) Lions 12.15 (87)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 1' - BEHIND KANGAROOS Some scrappy stuff in midfield here. Simpkin then goes on the run, breaking away from the defence before firing from 55 metres out. It's off to the right for a minor score, extending the lead back out to 50. Kangaroos 21.15 (141) Lions 11.15 (81)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 2' - BEHIND LIONS Bailey to Robertson on the edge of the 50 here. He takes a running shot on goal, but it's off to the right for a point. Kangaroos 21.14 (140) Lions 11.15 (81)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' - GOAL KANGAROOS, LUKE MCDONALD Jee! That's an awesome bit of work and the Kangas are finishing with a flourish here. Goldstein with some great work after the centre clearance. He finds McDonald who goes on the run and then kicks it goalward from about 55 out, the ball having the legs to go through the middle. Kangaroos 21.14 (140) Lions 11.14 (80)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 3' - GOAL KANGAROOS, BEN JACOBS Macmillan takes the kick from the boundary here. He sends it in the direction of Ben Brown at the top of the goal square, but the Lions will make a partial clearance, the ball only going as far as Ben Jacobs about 45 out who takes the mark and will have a shot on goal. No problems with that. North Melbourne have 20 goals on the board. Kangaroos 20.14 (134) Lions 11.14 (80)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 4' The Kangaroos forward from the bounce. Atley has it about 55 out after a mark and he sends it to the middle. Good spoil over the top of Brown who was going up for the mark there before Andrews puts a kick out on the full at about the 50-metre circle. Kangaroos 19.14 (128) Lions 11.14 (80)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 5' - GOAL KANGAROOS, BEN CUNNINGTON The Roos up the left-hand wing. Wood takes a mark, but that one not ruled to be 15 metres. He quickly plays on and chips it into the middle for Ben Cunnington and that one was 15 metres. Mark paid and he turns around, putting the goal through from 45 metres out on the set shot. Kangaroos 19.14 (128) Lions 11.14 (80)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Q4 6' The Lions really can take a lot of positives out of this second half. That raid forward didn't work for them, but just a spoilt mark at the end the only thing stopping Beams from having yet another shot on goal. Kangaroos 18.14 (122) Lions 11.14 (80)