TonyK
CibbuanoRoos win thriller
May 9th 2009 13:31
NORTH MELBOURNE has snapped a two-game losing streak with a thrilling five-point win over Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The Roos broke the game open in a dominant second term and held off a fast-finishing Port side to prevail 20.5 (125) to 18.12 (120).
The result appeared to be well and truly beyond doubt with North leading by 30 points with just six minutes remaining but the Power hit back with four goals in a five minutes to close to within six points.
Daniel Motlop attempted a miracle goal off the ground to level the scores but his kick was astray as North held firm in the dying stages to secure a much-needed win.
Former North skipper Adam Simpson and Andrew Swallow were influential in close and finished with a team-high 27 possessions apiece while Daniel Wells showed his class in first game back from injury with 26 disposals.
Hamish McIntosh was busy in the ruck with 29 hit outs and 20 touches while youngster Jack Ziebell continued the impressive start to his career with 23 disposals.
The Kangaroos had 12 individual goal kickers for the match - Matt Campbell and Aaron Edwards the most effective with three apiece.
For Port, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes and skipper Domenic Cassisi won plenty of the football. Warren Tredrea booted three goals while Daniel Motlop looked dangerous all night but failed to make the most of his chances in front of goal, booting a wasteful 2.4.
North started brightly and skipped out to a 13-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter thanks to goals from Ziebell and Campbell.
The Power slowly worked their way into the match and trailed by just six points at the first change.
With Wells providing plenty of drive the Kangaroos were able to take control of the contest in the second term.
They continually won the football at the stoppages and moved it quickly through the middle of the ground as they slammed on seven goals.
Edwards was particularly damaging, booting three majors to help his side to a commanding 31-point lead at half-time.
Goals from Tredrea and Nathan Krakeour in the first five minutes of the third term gave the Power a sniff but the Roos appeared to have all the answers and still held a 30-point lead late in the quarter.
The Power lifted their rating and responded with three goals in a five-minute burst to reduce the deficit to just 13 points at three-quarter time.
North appeared to have secured the four premiership points when David Hale kicked truly at the 25-minute mark of the final stanza to blow the margin out to five goals.
But Port refused to give in and mounted a late charge but it was too little too late.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.1, 12.1, 15.3, 20.5 (125)
PORT ADELAIDE: 4.1, 6.6, 12.8, 18.12 (120)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Edwards 3, Campbell 3, Warren 2, Hale 2, Thomas 2, Harding 2, Petrie, Ziebell, Swallow, Lower, Simpson, Firrito
Port Adelaide: Tredrea 3, Boak 2, Motlop 2, Rodan 2, Ebert
2, Lade 2, C.Cornes, Brogan, Davenport, Chaplin, Krakouer
BEST: North Melbourne: Wells, Simpson, McIntosh, Swallow, Harris, Ziebell
Port Adelaide: Boak, K.Cornes, Chaplin, C.Cornes, Cassisi, Brogan
INJURIES: North Melbourne: TBC
Port Adelaide: Salopek (shoulder)
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Urquhart and Rawlings replaced in North Melbourne's selected side by Power and Lower
UMPIRES: Kamolins, Pannell, McInerney
CROWD: 14,342 at Etihad Stadium
The Roos broke the game open in a dominant second term and held off a fast-finishing Port side to prevail 20.5 (125) to 18.12 (120).
The result appeared to be well and truly beyond doubt with North leading by 30 points with just six minutes remaining but the Power hit back with four goals in a five minutes to close to within six points.
Daniel Motlop attempted a miracle goal off the ground to level the scores but his kick was astray as North held firm in the dying stages to secure a much-needed win.
Former North skipper Adam Simpson and Andrew Swallow were influential in close and finished with a team-high 27 possessions apiece while Daniel Wells showed his class in first game back from injury with 26 disposals.
Hamish McIntosh was busy in the ruck with 29 hit outs and 20 touches while youngster Jack Ziebell continued the impressive start to his career with 23 disposals.
The Kangaroos had 12 individual goal kickers for the match - Matt Campbell and Aaron Edwards the most effective with three apiece.
For Port, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes and skipper Domenic Cassisi won plenty of the football. Warren Tredrea booted three goals while Daniel Motlop looked dangerous all night but failed to make the most of his chances in front of goal, booting a wasteful 2.4.
North started brightly and skipped out to a 13-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter thanks to goals from Ziebell and Campbell.
The Power slowly worked their way into the match and trailed by just six points at the first change.
With Wells providing plenty of drive the Kangaroos were able to take control of the contest in the second term.
They continually won the football at the stoppages and moved it quickly through the middle of the ground as they slammed on seven goals.
Edwards was particularly damaging, booting three majors to help his side to a commanding 31-point lead at half-time.
Goals from Tredrea and Nathan Krakeour in the first five minutes of the third term gave the Power a sniff but the Roos appeared to have all the answers and still held a 30-point lead late in the quarter.
The Power lifted their rating and responded with three goals in a five-minute burst to reduce the deficit to just 13 points at three-quarter time.
North appeared to have secured the four premiership points when David Hale kicked truly at the 25-minute mark of the final stanza to blow the margin out to five goals.
But Port refused to give in and mounted a late charge but it was too little too late.
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.1, 12.1, 15.3, 20.5 (125)
PORT ADELAIDE: 4.1, 6.6, 12.8, 18.12 (120)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Edwards 3, Campbell 3, Warren 2, Hale 2, Thomas 2, Harding 2, Petrie, Ziebell, Swallow, Lower, Simpson, Firrito
Port Adelaide: Tredrea 3, Boak 2, Motlop 2, Rodan 2, Ebert
2, Lade 2, C.Cornes, Brogan, Davenport, Chaplin, Krakouer
BEST: North Melbourne: Wells, Simpson, McIntosh, Swallow, Harris, Ziebell
Port Adelaide: Boak, K.Cornes, Chaplin, C.Cornes, Cassisi, Brogan
INJURIES: North Melbourne: TBC
Port Adelaide: Salopek (shoulder)
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Urquhart and Rawlings replaced in North Melbourne's selected side by Power and Lower
UMPIRES: Kamolins, Pannell, McInerney
CROWD: 14,342 at Etihad Stadium
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