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We have improved: Laidley

September 7th 2008 02:22
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley believes his side has made significant progress this season despite being bundled out in the first week of the finals.

The Roos' 2008 campaign ended on Saturday night when they lost to Sydney by 35 points at ANZ Stadium.

The Kangaroos reached a preliminary final in 2007 but Laidley believes his side has improved this season.

"I actually think, if you're talking about (winning) premierships - and let's face it that's what we're here to do - I would have thought we're closer this year than what we were last year," Laidley said.

"When we walked off after the preliminary final (against Port Adelaide) I thought we were a ways off it but the development over the summer and through the year of the younger guys that I've already spoken about, and with what we've probably got to come into the side ... it's been a real step forward for us."


Laidley admitted his side struggled to find consistency this season.

"We'll sit down and we'll have a review, we've played some pretty good footy at certain stages during the year, other times we were ordinary," he said.

Laidley also said the emergence of several players was a positive to take out of this season.

"(But there) are some really positive signs, the combination of Lindsay (Thomas) and Matty Campbell inside our forward 50's been super and to get nearly 60 goals from them (was pleasing), but their probably last four weeks has been a bit flat," Laidley said.

"Also to find a player like (Gavin) Urquhart, I think David Hale's taken another real step in his career, Ben Ross is in the wings and he probably wouldn't have gone out of the side if he didn't get injured."

"We've certainly found another ruckman in (Todd) Goldstein … and (Lachlan) Hansen came in and did some pretty good things for us, so outside of that side tonight you've probably got five or six kids that we think can have a really big influence next year or continue to have a big influence and you'll have some of those guys turning into men."
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Laidley apologises to fans

August 31st 2008 00:30
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley yesterday apologised for his side's 'disgraceful' performance at the MCG on Saturday in going down by 76 points to Port Adelaide.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Laidley said his team's performance was even more disappointing considering what was at stake - a top four berth - and the fact that it was veteran Shannon Grant's 300th match.

"I'm here to apologise firstly to our supporters and secondly to Shannon Grant's family, because that was a disgraceful effort today," Laidley said.

"It all comes down to effort required, and it was non-existent and that was one of the things we spoke about all week - the effort."


"It's a mental application and about your desire to work hard … but that was non-existent today."

"That's not like us and we've blown an opportunity to finish fourth, but we have another opportunity and that's the important thing now."

Laidley said his leadership group was simply 'horrible' on Saturday and hinted that their may be changes made for next weekend's cut-throat final.

"Some of the guys who have served us so well have been on a bit of a slippery dip and some of the guys who performed poorly today and who performed poorly last week make themselves vulnerable," he said.

"Do we take them into a finals series probably not being match hardened?"

"That's a question we have to really look very closely at and pick the best side to win a final."

"It's important to be able to realign yourself, refocus and get yourself ready, but eight other sides would love to be sitting where we are right now."

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Roos not thinking about finals: Laidley

August 29th 2008 02:39
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley has dismissed suggestions that his side already has one eye on the first week of the finals.

A win against struggling Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday means the Kangaroos will retain fourth place and book a qualifying final showdown against reigning premiers and ladder leaders Geelong.

But Laidley said it was too risky to be thinking about possible finals match-ups when their is still one game left in the home-and-away season.

"If we do well and we win the game on Saturday, ring me up on Saturday afternoon and I'll speak to you about the opposition," he said.

"I'll tell you right now, we don't talk about who we play or who we might play the following week until we win this game of footy.

"It's just a bit of a myth with the media guys that we start to talk about what may or may not occur.

"You just can't afford to do that in this competition otherwise you get your pants pulled down."
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Grant one of the best: Laidley

August 26th 2008 05:55
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley has described retiring veteran Shannon Grant as the club's second-greatest match-winner of the modern era.

Grant, who will play his 300th game this weekend against Port Adelaide at the MCG, revealed on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the season.

He began his career in Sydney and played for the Swans against North Melbourne in the 1996 grand final before being traded to the Kangaroos at the end of 1997.

Grant, who has booted 357 goals in 299 games, won the Norm Smith Medal after booting four goals in the Roos' grand final win in 1999.

Laidley praised Grant for his contribution to the club over the past decade, saying the 31-year-old had won several games for the club off his own boot.

"I have said this openly before that take Wayne Carey out of the picture and this guy sitting next to me (Grant) has won more games off his own boot (for North Melbourne) than anyone else," Laidley said.

"He has done everything in footy, apart from win a Brownlow Medal - and that speaks volumes for his actions on the field but also the work he has done off the field as well."

Grant admitted he has always prided himself on his ability to perform on the big stage but said he was embarassed at being compared to Carey, who is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.

"You do look back with pride (at his big game reputation) but in the same breath you get a bit embarrassed being compared to Wayne Carey as a footballer," he said.

"But it's certainly something that when you set out to play (AFL) you want to play well in the big games and you want to play finals footy and if you are not playing for that reason you might as well give the game away."

Grant said he is looking forward to finishing his career on a positive note.

"I am looking forward to a big few weeks ahead," Grant said.

"I always wanted to go out on my terms and I don't think there is anything worse than going on that extra year or two and running around in the VFL."

"That is certainly something I didn't want to do and I think when you have enough time to think about (retiring) you know when the time is right and I knew the time had come

He also said there is plenty to like about the club's future.

"There is a lot of potential here, a lot of good youngsters coming through and when we are up and about we can play some decent footy," he said.

"This side is a lot younger (than the side he walked into in 1998) so there is a lot more scope for improvement in the group so you would hope that potential will be fulfilled down the track."
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Grant calls it quits

August 26th 2008 01:27
NORTH MELBOURNE veteran Shannon Grant has confirmed he will retire at the end of this season.

Grant, who will play his 300th game against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday, said he will hang up the boots when the Roos are knocked out of the finals.

The 31-year-old was originally drafted by Sydney but was traded to North at the end of the 1997 season in a straight swap for Wayne Schwass.

Grant has played 241 games for North Melbourne and won the Norm Smith medal after booting four goals in the Roos' 35-point win over Carlton in the 1999 grand final.


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Wells re-signs

August 19th 2008 02:26
NORTH MELBOURNE has strengthened its on-field future with the re-signing of classy midfielder Daniel Wells for a further two seasons.

Wells will be contracted to the Kangaroos until the end of the 2010 season, ending speculation that he might return to his native Western Australia.

He joins team-mates Drew Petrie, Hamish McIntosh, Michael Firrito, Daniel Pratt, Corey Jones and Brady Rawlings as Kangaroos to have signed new deals this year.

The 23-year-old, who is currently in career-best form said he was delighted to be remaining with the Kangaroos.

"It's fantastic," he said.

"The manager and the club have been working pretty hard the last couple of weeks and knocked it over pretty quickly (and) I just look forward to playing some good footy."
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Roos move to fourth

August 17th 2008 07:40
NORTH MELBOURNE has moved into the top four with a convincing 51-point win over Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon.

The Roos dominated after quarter-time, slamming on 17 goals to eight to cruise to a comfortable 22.9 (141) to 14.6 (90) victory.

The loss means the Blues have now dropped to 11th place on the AFL ladder and must defeat Brisbane and Hawthorn and rely on other results going their way if they are going to feature in September action.

Brent Harvey did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with a game-high 30 possessions and three goals. He received good support in the middle from Daniel Harris and Brady Rawlings, who racked up 27 possessions each while Leigh Harding, David Hale and Shannon Grant booted three goals apiece.

For Carlton, skipper Chris Judd (23 possessions) and Marc Murphy (29 touches) tried hard all day while Brendon Fevola was the only Blues forward that looked dangerous, finishing the match with six goals.

The Blues started brightly with Fevola booting the first two goals of the contest in the space of two minutes.

Both sides traded goals for the remainder of a frenetic first quarter with Fevola's third major ensuring Carlton would go into the first change with their noses in front, holding a six-point advantage.

The Kangaroos broke the game open in the second term, slamming on six unanswered goals in a stunning 15-minute burst to skip out to a commanding 32-point lead.

The Roos had 10 inside 50 entries to Carlton's none during that period with the Blues first entry inside 50 not coming until the 16-minute mark of the second quarter.

The Blues lifted late in the term with Fevola's fifth major getting Carlton to within 20 points of the Kangaroos.

But a double 50m penalty against Fevola proved to be costly with Harding kicking his second to give the Roos a 26-point advantage at the main break.

Carlton kicked the first goal of the second half through Matthew Kreuzer but the remainder of the third term belonged to the Roos as they slammed on four unanswered goals to skip out to a match-winning 45-point lead heading into the final change.

The sting was well and truly out of the contest in the final stanza with the Kangaroos booting five goals to four to record their 12th win of the season.

CARLTON: 6.2, 9.3, 10.5, 14.6 (90)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.2, 13.5, 17.8, 22.9 (141)
GOALS: Carlton: Fevola 6, Cloke 2, Fisher 2, Judd, Kreuzer, Russell, Scotland
North Melbourne: Grant 3, Hale 3, Harding 3, Harvey 3, Hansen 2, Jones 2, Thomas 2, Brown, McMahon, Petrie, B. Rawlings
BEST: Carlton: Judd, Fevola, Carrazzo, Walker, Cloke
North Melbourne: Harvey, Harding, Firrito, Grant, Hale, Harris
INJURIES: Carlton: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Meredith, Jeffery


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Laidley focused on finals finish

August 14th 2008 03:48
NORTH MELBOURNE coach Dean Laidley says all his energies are focused on securing his side a finals berth this weekend rather than his own future.

The Roos will play finals for the second successive season if they defeat Carlton at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

But the week at Arden Street has been dominated by talks of Laidley's future.

However, Laidley said he was solely focused on what is happening on the field.

"I haven't spoken to the club and they haven't spoken to me or (manager) Ricky (Nixon)," he said.

"I just think it's important for everyone at the footy club to focus on what we are doing now."

"If we can complete our task this weekend we play in a finals series. I think right now that's what the coaches and players should be focusing on."

"Things will or won't get sort out but my main concern is winning games of footy right now."

Meanwhile, Laidley said skipper Adam Simpson will resume after a hip complaint sidelined him for the past fortnight ruckman while Hamish McIntosh is a chance to return after he suffered a knee injury in round 12.

"He (McIntosh) is one guy that we've really spoken about. At the end of the day it will probably be a medical decision but the coach is pretty keen for him to play," Laidley said.

The Kangaroos have won nine of their last 11 matches against Carlton but Laidley their good recent record against the Blues counted for little.

"I wouldn't imagine any records or past games will have anything to do with it. They are a completely different side to anything we've come up against in previous Carlton sides," he said.

"They've got a different coaching panel, they play a hell of a lot differently. I wouldn't have thought past history will have much to do with Sunday afternoon."


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Key Roos set to return

August 11th 2008 01:57
NORTH MELBOURNE looks set to be bolstered by the return of skipper Adam Simpson and number one ruckman Hamish McIntosh for Sunday's crucial clash against Carlton at Telstra Dome.

The Kangaroos have won their past five matches and remain just just percentage adrift of Sydney in the race for fourth spot and the double chance.

But Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley believes his team may have to win all three remaining games to be guaranteed of finishing in the top four for the second successive season.

Laidley said the return of Simpson and McIntosh would be a huge boost for his side.

"We get our captain back next week so that is huge improvement for us and Hamish
McIntosh, we will probably just about bring him straight back in," Laidley said.

"He has been training really well and he can play second fiddle to (Drew) Petrie and (David) Hale."

McIntosh has been sidelined since round 12 with a knee injury while Simpson has been a late withdrawal the past two matches due to a hip problem.

The Roos already have key talls Petrie, Hale and veteran Nathan Thompson at their disposal but Laidley said he was confident the return of McIntosh will not make the team to too "top heavy."

"We have played with them all in previous years and it will be horses for courses I would have thought," Laidley said.


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Roos outgun Dogs

August 10th 2008 06:19
NORTH MELBOURNE has kept its top-four hopes alive with a 20-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome on Sunday afternoon.

The Roos' 21.10 (136) to 18.8 (116) victory sees them trail the fourth-placed Swans by just percentage with three rounds remaining.

But with an easier run home than the Swans - who face reigning premiers and ladder leaders Geelong and Collingwood in the next fortnight - the Roos will now fancy their chances of finishing in the top four for a second successive season.

North were too good all over the ground for a sluggish Bulldogs side that has now lost three of their past four matches.

Brent Harvey did his Brownlow medal chances no harm with 27 possessions and three goals, including a contender for goal-of-the-year in the first term. He received good support in the middle from Brady Rawlings, Daniel Wells, Jess Sinclair and Daniel Harris, who all racked up 20-plus possessions.

The Kangaroos had 12 individual goalkickers for the match with Shannon Grant, Matt Campbell and Leigh Harding particularly damaging with three goals apiece.

For the Bulldogs, skipper Brad Johnson led from the front with 22 possessions, 11 marks and five goals. Daniel Giansiracusa chimed in with three last-quarter goals while youngster Jarrod Harbrow was lively with 16 possessions, nine marks and three majors.

Robert Murphy was also influential with 19 disposals and two goals while Adam Cooney returned to form with a team-high 27 possessions.

The Roos dominated general play early but failed to translate their dominance onto the scoreboard, booting five straight behinds before David Hale finally slotted one home.

North found their range from that moment on, slamming on 11.1 to take a commanding 38-point lead into the main break.

The contest appeared to be over when the margin blew out to 50 points early in the third term.

But the Bulldogs lifted their intensity and kicked six of the last eight goals of the quarter to be within striking distance heading into the final change, with North holding a four-goal lead.

The Dogs kicked seven goals in the final term but the Kangaroos had all the answers, booting six of their own to seal their fifth straight win.

NORTH MELBOURNE: 6.5, 11.6, 15.7, 21.10 (136)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 2.3, 5.4, 11.7, 18.8 (116)
GOALS: North: Campbell 3, Harding 3, Harvey 3, Grant 3, Thompson 2, Wells, Sinclair, Jones, Hale, Lower, McMahon, Thomas
Bulldogs: Johnson 5, Harbrow 3, Giansiracusa 3, Murphy 2, Hahn 2, Welsh, Griffen, Cooney
BEST: North: Harvey, Wells, Rawlings, Harding, Campbell, Grant, Harris, Sinclair, Firrito
Bulldogs: Johnson, Cooney, Murphy, Harbrow,
Boyd, Cross
INJURIES: North: Nil
Bulldogs: Nil
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Stevic, Hendrie
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: North: Simpson (hip) replaced in selected side by Watt
Bulldogs: Hudson (back) replaced in selected by Street


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Petrie re-signs

August 5th 2008 02:16
NORTH MELBOURNE utility Drew Petrie has been rewarded for his career-best form with a new three-year deal.

The 25-year-old is the latest Kangaroo to re-sign with the club this season, following in the footsteps of ruckman Hamish McIntosh, Michael Firrito, Daniel Pratt, Corey Jones and Brady Rawlings.

North Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca said signing Petrie was a 'high priority' for the club.

Petrie said he never contemplated leaving the Kangaroos.

"With the people that have played at this club before, like Arch (Glenn Archer) and Stevo (Anthony Stevens), the list can go on, it was never an issue to leave," he said.

"Those guys have really made the club what it is today, now it's up to us to carry that baton."


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Urquhart wins nomination

August 5th 2008 01:12
NORTH MELBOURNE youngster Gavin Urquhart has been rewarded for his consistent season with the round 18 NAB Rising Star nomination.

The 20-year-old racked up 22 possessions in the Roos' come-from-behind win against Brisbane on the Gold Coast last weekend and has averaged 17 disposals in nine games.

Urquhart was drafted by the Kangaroos with selection No.21 in the 2006 national draft and served a tough apprenticeship in the VFL reserves last year, playing nearly all season for North Ballarat.

But he broke through for his first senior appearance in round 10 and has been a key member of the Roos' defence since.

North Melbourne assistant coach Darren Crocker said Urquhart, who was a rugby league and union player as a junior had come a long way in the past 12 months.

"A year ago Gav was a long way off playing senior football, and this nomination is a credit to the hard work he has done since that time," Crocker said.

"He has been a valuable player since coming into the side and we are looking forward to his continued development."



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Roos down Lions

August 2nd 2008 13:08
NORTH MELBOURNE has kept its top-four hopes alive with a hard-fought eight-point win over Brisbane at Gold Coast Stadium on Saturday night.

The Roos got the early jump and fought their way back into the contest after Brisbane took control in the second term before booting the last three goals of the match through Sam Power, Lachlan Hansen and Scott McMahon to prevail 13.14 (92) to 11.18 (84).

The Kangaroos now trail fourth-placed Sydney by percentage while the Lions will fall out of the eight if St Kilda defeat Port Adelaide tomorrow. Brisbane faces a tough run home with matches against Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs, Carlton and Sydney in the last four rounds.

Daniel Wells stepped up in the absence of North Melbourne skipper Adam Simpson, racking up a team-high 31 possessions. He received good support from Daniel Harris, Brady Rawlings and promising youngster Gavin Urquhart, who all racked up 20-plus disposals while David Hale booted three goals.

Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw were the only Brisbane forwards that had an impact, booting five goals apiece while third-gamer Brad Dalziell and Michael Rischitelli were busy contributors in the middle with 34 and 30 possessions respectively.

The Kangaroos dominated most of the first term, kicking five of the first six goals of the contest to skip out to a 28-point lead.

Brisbane hit back through Bradshaw at the 24-minute mark before a late goal from Anthony Corrie kept the Lions within striking distance, with the Roos holding a 15-point lead at the first change.

North kicked the first goal after quarter-time through Leigh Brown but the rest of the term belonged to Brisbane.

Jonathan Brown stamped his authority on the contest, booting four goals for the quarter with his fourth major giving the Lions the lead for the first time in the match before Bradshaw slotted home his third to give Brisbane a ten-point advantage at half-time.

The Roos came out firing in the third term, slamming on the first four goals of the quarter to open up an 11-point lead.

But Brown's fifth and Bradshaw's fourth ensured the Lions would go into the final change with their noses in front, holding a three-point advantage.

The Lions got the crucial first goal of the final stanza through Bradshaw but the Roos hit back through Power to close to within three points at the 19-minute mark.

Travis Johnstone had a chance to bury the the Kangaroos in the dying minutes but he made a critical error.

Running towards goal, Johnstone elected not to handball off to an unmarked Bradshaw in the goal square, and instead sprayed his shot wide.

North Melbourne rebounded and Hansen slotted home a goal less than a minute later to give his side the lead, which they never relinquished.

NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.6, 6.9, 10.10, 13.14 (92)
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.3, 8.7, 10.13, 11.18 (84)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Hale 3, Campbell 2, Brown 2, Hansen 2, Pratt, Gibson, Power, McMahon.
Brisbane: Bradshaw 5, Brown 5, Corrie.
BEST: North Melbourne: Wells, Petrie, Urquhart, Harris, Hansen, Rawlings.
Brisbane: Rischitelli, Dalziell, Brown, Bradshaw, Brennan, Proud.
INJURIES: North Melbourne: Pratt (shoulder)
Brisbane: Clark (quad)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Simpson (NM) replaced by Sinclair
UMPIRES: Rosebury, Schmitt, Armstrong.
CROWD: 10,037 at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara.


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Thompson to be rested

July 30th 2008 04:23
NORTH MELBOURNE will rest key forward Nathan Thompson in a bid to have him fresh for the remainder of the run-in to the finals.

Thompson, who was dropped following the round 15 win over Port Adelaide, had struggled in three matches back from a knee injury, booting just two goals after starting the season with 24 majors in the first nine games

The 30-year-old responded in the best possible fashion, booting six goals in the VFL during roudnd 16.

He did not play at reserves level last week due to a bye and the Roos have opted to rest him from both its AFL and VFL sides this week.

Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said he was aiming to have the Roos' two-time leading goalkicker back in the side for the round 19 clash against the Western Bulldogs.

"He won't play this week," Laidley said of Thompson.

"He is not injured per se, he has just lost a lot of strength in his legs because backing up week after week - coming off the knee (injury) - he hasn't been able to put the strength work in his legs so he has lost that spark to be able to get off his opponent."

"So for the last three weeks we have just put him through a strengthening program and we would like to think by early next week he is right to go."

"His touch and fitness is good, it's just that strength in his legs we are looking for."

In some good news for the Kangaroos, Laidley said number one ruckman Hamish McIntosh, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round 12 will resume in the VFL in a fortnight while forward Aaron Edwards, who has been sidelined since round six with a broken leg will play in the VFL next week.

Laidley also said he expected that this weekend's clash against Brisbane would be the club's last on the Gold Coast despite the Roos having a contract to play four more 'home' games there in 2009.

"Yeah it's going to be the end of it, I'd imagine that will be the case," Laidley said.

"We have enjoyed going up there and it's been great but obviously it's a good place for a holiday but Melbourne is a great place to live."

"I just missed out last week and so (I) still have a few more boxes to tick in terms of training sessions ... but very confident.

"I've been able to run pretty much close to full pace so as long as I get through training today and Friday I'll be right."




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