TonyK
CibbuanoRoos 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
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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