NORTH MELBOURNE has notched up its first win of the season with a comprehensive 59-point victory over Melbourne under the roof of Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A dominant final quarter by the Kangaroos, where they kicked eight goals to Melbourne’s one, blew out the margin from 18 points at three-quarter time to nearly 10 goals.
The Roos kicked six goals in six minutes and 16 seconds of game time to start the final term, much to the delight of their fans, who had packed in under the roof despite the glorious Melbourne weather outside.
North Melbourne’s midfield, led by ruck Tristan Xerri (29 hitouts, 12 clearances) and Tom Powell (31 disposals), were the difference along with dangerous forwards Cam Zurhaar and Paul Curtis.
Zuurhar, who shook off his goal-kicking blues from round one when he kicked one goal and four behinds, this week kicked 4.1. He was joined by livewire Curtis (three goals, 22 disposals) and Nick Larkey (three goals).
New Roos also added to their side’s total, with Luke Parker, Jacob Konstanty and Colby McKercher kicking their first goals as Shinboners.
Another new Roo, West Coast premiership player Jack Darling, kicked two of his own in his 300th AFL match, much to the delight of North fans who have instantly embraced the veteran.
A shining light for Melbourne was the form of their four-time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver, who was back to his best, and small forward Kade Chandler, who finished with three goals.
The Demons will be waiting to find out the results of an injury to forward Matthew Jefferson, who kicked two goals on debut in round one but left the ground with a hand injury at the quarter-time break and didn’t return.
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.5 8.9 11.10 19.11 (125)
MELBOURNE 4.5 6.9 8.10 9.12 (66)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Curtis 3, Larkey 3, Darling 2, Scott, McKercher, Simpkin, Konstanty, Parker, Powell, Xerri
Melbourne: Chandler 3, Fritsch, Petracca, Turner, Henderson, van Rooyen, Oliver
BEST
North Melbourne: Xerri, Powell, Zurhaar, Curtis Daniel, Comben
Melbourne: Oliver, Chandler, Petracca, Gawn, Lindsay, Viney
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Melbourne: Jefferson (hand)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Dylan Stephens (replaced Will Phillips in the fourth quarter)
Melbourne: Taj Woewodin (replaced Matthew Jefferson in the second quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium
