TonyK
CibbuanoRoos too good for Demons
March 29th 2009 05:50
NORTH MELBOURNE has downed a plucky Melbourne side by 34 points at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
The Kangaroos were challenged for three quarters by last year’s wooden spooners before taking control in the last term to prevail 15.11 (101) to 10.7 (67).
Leigh Harding was influential with 28 possessions, 12 marks, seven tackles and one goal while ruckman Hamish McIntosh dominated against a Melbourne ruck division led by first-gamer Jake Spencer, finishing the match with 21 disposals and three goals.
Despite the loss, Melbourne’s future appears to be bright with debutants Spencer, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta and Kyle Cheney all showing promising signs while defender Matthew Warnock kept David Hale goalless.
The lead changed hands six times in a hard-fought first half but it was the Kangaroos who took a seven-point advantage into the main break thanks to goals from McIntosh and Harding.
Goals from Drew Petrie and Matt Campbell saw the margin blow out to 20 points early in the third term.
The Melbourne of last season would have allowed the Kangaroos to run all over the top of them but the 2009 version refused to give in and hit back through Ricky Petterd - who kicked a brilliant check-side goal from the boundary - and Brad Green who slotted one home from outside 50.
But the Kangaroos had all the answers with Adam Simpson kicking truly at the 21-minute mark after Harding forced a turnover with a brilliant smother before a late goal from McIntosh gave North a handy 14-point lead heading into the final change.
The young Demons wilted in the final term as North slammed on four goals to one to secure the four premiership points.
Melbourne now faces Collingwood next Saturday afternoon at the MCG while North Melbourne will play the Western Bulldogs at the home of football on Sunday.
MELBOURNE: 3.3, 6.5, 9.6, 10.7 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 3.3, 7.6, 11.8, 15.11 (101)
GOALS: Melbourne: Petterd 2, Green 2, Bate, Morton, Moloney, Davey, Jetta, Johnson
North: McIntosh 3, Thomas 2, Campbell 2, Petrie 2, Simpson, Harvey, Harding, McMahon, Firrito, Hale
BEST: Melbourne: Moloney, Warnock, Cheney, Frawley, Petterd, Bruce, Jones
North: McIntosh, Harding, Simpson, Thomas, Campbell, Power, Swallow
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
North: Nil
UMPIRES: Grun, McInerney, Mollison
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 28,707 at MCG
The Kangaroos were challenged for three quarters by last year’s wooden spooners before taking control in the last term to prevail 15.11 (101) to 10.7 (67).
Leigh Harding was influential with 28 possessions, 12 marks, seven tackles and one goal while ruckman Hamish McIntosh dominated against a Melbourne ruck division led by first-gamer Jake Spencer, finishing the match with 21 disposals and three goals.
Despite the loss, Melbourne’s future appears to be bright with debutants Spencer, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta and Kyle Cheney all showing promising signs while defender Matthew Warnock kept David Hale goalless.
The lead changed hands six times in a hard-fought first half but it was the Kangaroos who took a seven-point advantage into the main break thanks to goals from McIntosh and Harding.
Goals from Drew Petrie and Matt Campbell saw the margin blow out to 20 points early in the third term.
The Melbourne of last season would have allowed the Kangaroos to run all over the top of them but the 2009 version refused to give in and hit back through Ricky Petterd - who kicked a brilliant check-side goal from the boundary - and Brad Green who slotted one home from outside 50.
But the Kangaroos had all the answers with Adam Simpson kicking truly at the 21-minute mark after Harding forced a turnover with a brilliant smother before a late goal from McIntosh gave North a handy 14-point lead heading into the final change.
The young Demons wilted in the final term as North slammed on four goals to one to secure the four premiership points.
Melbourne now faces Collingwood next Saturday afternoon at the MCG while North Melbourne will play the Western Bulldogs at the home of football on Sunday.
MELBOURNE: 3.3, 6.5, 9.6, 10.7 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 3.3, 7.6, 11.8, 15.11 (101)
GOALS: Melbourne: Petterd 2, Green 2, Bate, Morton, Moloney, Davey, Jetta, Johnson
North: McIntosh 3, Thomas 2, Campbell 2, Petrie 2, Simpson, Harvey, Harding, McMahon, Firrito, Hale
BEST: Melbourne: Moloney, Warnock, Cheney, Frawley, Petterd, Bruce, Jones
North: McIntosh, Harding, Simpson, Thomas, Campbell, Power, Swallow
INJURIES: Melbourne: Nil
North: Nil
UMPIRES: Grun, McInerney, Mollison
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 28,707 at MCG
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