North Melbourne have kept their AFL finals hopes alive with an upset 40-point win over West Coast in Hobart.
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Final score
North Melbourne Kangaroos 12.9.81
West Coast Eagles 6.5.41
The North Melbourne Kangaroos welcome an in-form West Coast Eagles to Blundstone Arena in a game the Kangaroos simply have to win if they have any aspirations to play finals football. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:10pm (AEST).
North Melbourne were shocking last week against the Collingwood Magpies. The Kangaroos have been hailed this season for being able to maintain a competitive edge that many sides have struggled to counter.
There is no denying Brad Scott’s team are not the most talented, but they have found a way to stay in games with a solid defence and applying great pressure around the contest.
In the past few weeks, they seem to have gone away from what brought them success at the beginning of the season. Losing Ben Jacobs and Jarrad Waite to injury certainly hasn’t helped.
Saying that, they will fancy themselves down in Tasmania as they do play the ground so well, but they won’t win if they play anything like they did against the Pies.
In team news for North, Mason Wood returns from injury and Will Walker will make his AFL debut. Alex Morgan (injured) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (omitted) make way.
As for the Eagles, they just look a really good outfit at the minute. For a team that did make significant list changes at the end of last season, they have thrived with younger faces running around.
They put the Western Bulldogs to the sword last week. They have so many avenues to goal which makes them a real threat when finals football comes around. It is difficult seeing anyone beating them at the Optus Stadium.
Jack Darling and Jamie Cripps kicked three majors each last week. Josh Kennedy and Mark LeCras chipped in with two goals each as well.
Andrew Gaff keeps improving as he reeled in 35 disposals, and Elliot Yeo continues to show his worth. They are just so even across the ground which no doubt makes them premiership contenders.
In team news this week for the Eagles, Tom Barrass comes in for the injured Lewis Jetta.
Prediction
Such a tough game to predict this one in terms of a winner. North Melbourne have been so strong down in Tasmania over the years, but their recent form compared to the Eagles’ will be the difference here.
Eagles by 17.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:10pm (AEST).
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
Would rather WC then the pies.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
A great weekend for tiger fans!!!
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me today everyone. I hope you enjoyed the call!
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Full Time North Melbourne have defeated the West Coast Eagles at Blundstone Arena to keep its finals chances alive. The Kangaroos were dominant all day, but really made it show in the second half. Paul Ahern the best player on the ground with 37 touches, and Ben Cunnington was also pretty good with 39.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 12.9 (81) West Coast Eagles: 6.5 (41)
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Enjoyed that A demolition Cunnington and Ahern destroyed the eagles
Joe B
Guest
West Coast have some tricky games in the remainder of their fixtures... very possible this game has cost them 2nd spot come season end. Finishing 4th could be a blessing in disguise, potentially 2 cracks at Richmond at the MCG.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 00.48 - North running riot as Anderson slots home his first.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 12.9 (81) West Coast Eagles: 6.5 (41)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 01.32 - Hrovat snaps and snaps truly.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 11.9 (75) West Coast Eagles: 6.5 (41)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 04.41 - Minor for the Eagles.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 10.9 (69) West Coast Eagles: 6.5 (41)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 06.53 - Cripps marks inside 50, but misses on the set shot.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 10.9 (69) West Coast Eagles: 6.4 (40)
Joe B
Guest
This game is over. West Coast can not claw back 5 goals in 8 minutes.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 08.17 - Higgins receives the ball and shows the composure no one from North has been able to this quarter. Big goal.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 10.9 (69) West Coast Eagles: 6.3 (39)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 08.52 - Ziebell marks and will go back on a slight angle, and he misses.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 9.9 (63) West Coast Eagles: 6.3 (39)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 12.31 - Venables marks inside 50 and he will take the set shot. He goes back and misses.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 9.8 (62) West Coast Eagles: 6.3 (39)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 17.44 - Wood marks inside 50 and he has an opportunity to get the first of the final quarter. He lines it up and kicks poorly.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 9.8 (62) West Coast Eagles: 6.2 (38)
Swannies
Guest
Eagles can still win this.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Final quarter underway!
Joe B
Guest
WCE have a task ahead of them in this last quarter... NM just dominated most of that 3rd quarter. 4 goals might be too much to claw back.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Another game not going to script.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Three-Quarter Time North more clinical in that quarter, although West Coast did get on top in some key areas statistically. Nonetheless, it's the Kangaroos' game to lose now.
North Melbourne Kangaroos : 9.7 (61) West Coast Eagles: 6.2 (38)