TonyK
CibbuanoRoos hold off Eagles
May 17th 2008 13:06
NORTH Melbourne has consolidated its place in the top eight with a hard-fought six-point win over a gallant West Coast outfit at Gold Coast Stadium on Saturday night.
Scores were level at the 13-minute mark of the final term before small forward Matt Campbell goal booted what proved to be the match-winning goal at the 19-minute mark as the Roos held on for a 13.11 (89) to 12.11(83) victory.
The loss takes West Coast to seven consecutive losses this season – the team’s second worst season start ever.
North Melbourne skipper Adam Simpson led from the front with 26 possessions and seven tackles. He received good support from Daniel Harris, Brent Harvey, Brady Rawlings, who all racked up 20 plus possessions, while Shannon Grant was prominent with 17 touches and two goals.
Kangaroos big man David Hale responded in the best possible fashion to criticism from coach Dean Laidley during the week with 16 possessions, ten marks, 12 hit-outs and three goals.
For West Coast, ruckman Dean Cox continued his stellar start to the season with 24 possessions and 31 hit-outs. Andrew Embley provided plenty of run with25 disposals and eight marks while Brent Staker was lively up forward with 18 possessions and three goals.
The Eagles may currently occupy 15th place on the AFL ladder with a 1-7 win-loss record but there is plenty to like about their future, with key forward Josh Kennedy collecting 14 possessions, seven marks and booting two goals, while impressive young midfielder Chris Masten racked up 21 quality disposals.
West Coast kicked the first goal of the match through Staker but it was the Kangaroos who gained the early ascendancy.
After a slow first eight minutes, Harris, Nathan Thompson, Hale and Grant goaled in succession to give North Melbourne a handy break.
But West Coast steadied through Quinten Lynch, McKinley and first-gamer Ryan Davis - with his first kick in AFL football before Hale kicked truly to give the Roos a five-point lead at quarter time.
The Eagles had the better of the second term as they slammed on four unanswered goals in five minutes to open up a 20-point lead. Two goals from Grant ensured the Kangaroos remained in the match, trailing by 15 points at the main break.
West Coast appeared to be cruising when Staker soccered home a goal from the goal-square two minutes into the third term to put his side up by 21 points.
However, North Melbourne lifted their intensity and started to get on top at the clearances as they piled the next five goals to take a seven-point lead into the final change.
The Eagles struggled to get the football out of their back half in the third term and should have trailed by more if it wasn't for some innacurate kicking in front of goal by the Kangaroos.
West Coast levelled the scores at the 13-minute mark of the final term when Ben McKinley kicked truly following a 50m penalty against Kangaroos utility Drew Petrie.
However, the Kangaroos were able to hold on with Campbell's goal and some strong defence in the dying stages allowing the Roos to secure a much needed four premiership points.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.2, 7.2, 11.8, 13.11 (89)
WEST COAST: 4.3, 9.5, 10.7, 12.11 (83)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Hale 3, Grant 2, Thompson 2, Harris, Harvey, Jones, Simpson, Wells, Campbell
West Coast: Staker 3, Lynch 2, Kennedy 2, McKinley 2, Davis, Stenglein, Wirrpanda
BEST: North Melbourne: Simpson, Hale, Harris, Harvey, Grant, Rawlings, Firrito
West Coast: Cox, Embley, Staker, A.Selwood, Masten, Kennedy, Wirrpanda
INJURIES: North Melbourne: Obst (ribs), Wells (right leg)
West Coast: Nil.
REPORTS Harvey (North Melbourne) was reported for allegedly tripping Matthew Priddis (West Coast) in the third quarter.
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Donlon, Vozzo, Kamolins
Crowd: TBC at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara
Scores were level at the 13-minute mark of the final term before small forward Matt Campbell goal booted what proved to be the match-winning goal at the 19-minute mark as the Roos held on for a 13.11 (89) to 12.11(83) victory.
The loss takes West Coast to seven consecutive losses this season – the team’s second worst season start ever.
North Melbourne skipper Adam Simpson led from the front with 26 possessions and seven tackles. He received good support from Daniel Harris, Brent Harvey, Brady Rawlings, who all racked up 20 plus possessions, while Shannon Grant was prominent with 17 touches and two goals.
Kangaroos big man David Hale responded in the best possible fashion to criticism from coach Dean Laidley during the week with 16 possessions, ten marks, 12 hit-outs and three goals.
For West Coast, ruckman Dean Cox continued his stellar start to the season with 24 possessions and 31 hit-outs. Andrew Embley provided plenty of run with25 disposals and eight marks while Brent Staker was lively up forward with 18 possessions and three goals.
The Eagles may currently occupy 15th place on the AFL ladder with a 1-7 win-loss record but there is plenty to like about their future, with key forward Josh Kennedy collecting 14 possessions, seven marks and booting two goals, while impressive young midfielder Chris Masten racked up 21 quality disposals.
West Coast kicked the first goal of the match through Staker but it was the Kangaroos who gained the early ascendancy.
After a slow first eight minutes, Harris, Nathan Thompson, Hale and Grant goaled in succession to give North Melbourne a handy break.
But West Coast steadied through Quinten Lynch, McKinley and first-gamer Ryan Davis - with his first kick in AFL football before Hale kicked truly to give the Roos a five-point lead at quarter time.
The Eagles had the better of the second term as they slammed on four unanswered goals in five minutes to open up a 20-point lead. Two goals from Grant ensured the Kangaroos remained in the match, trailing by 15 points at the main break.
West Coast appeared to be cruising when Staker soccered home a goal from the goal-square two minutes into the third term to put his side up by 21 points.
However, North Melbourne lifted their intensity and started to get on top at the clearances as they piled the next five goals to take a seven-point lead into the final change.
The Eagles struggled to get the football out of their back half in the third term and should have trailed by more if it wasn't for some innacurate kicking in front of goal by the Kangaroos.
West Coast levelled the scores at the 13-minute mark of the final term when Ben McKinley kicked truly following a 50m penalty against Kangaroos utility Drew Petrie.
However, the Kangaroos were able to hold on with Campbell's goal and some strong defence in the dying stages allowing the Roos to secure a much needed four premiership points.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.2, 7.2, 11.8, 13.11 (89)
WEST COAST: 4.3, 9.5, 10.7, 12.11 (83)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Hale 3, Grant 2, Thompson 2, Harris, Harvey, Jones, Simpson, Wells, Campbell
West Coast: Staker 3, Lynch 2, Kennedy 2, McKinley 2, Davis, Stenglein, Wirrpanda
BEST: North Melbourne: Simpson, Hale, Harris, Harvey, Grant, Rawlings, Firrito
West Coast: Cox, Embley, Staker, A.Selwood, Masten, Kennedy, Wirrpanda
INJURIES: North Melbourne: Obst (ribs), Wells (right leg)
West Coast: Nil.
REPORTS Harvey (North Melbourne) was reported for allegedly tripping Matthew Priddis (West Coast) in the third quarter.
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Donlon, Vozzo, Kamolins
Crowd: TBC at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara
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