Australian Football

Match Report

The battle for a top-two place on the ladder was thrown open on Friday night when North Melbourne surprised Geelong at Docklands stadium, defeating the Cats by 10 points in a high standard and entertaining game.

As they had done in their meeting with Geelong earlier in the season, the Kangaroos gained a break over the Cats in the first half, but this time around absorbed the pressure of a second-half comeback and held on to win. The victory underscored the undoubted talent of the North Melbourne side and, unless they can somehow sneak into the eight, it seems inevitable that the Roos will rue 2013 as a season that got away, with five losses of under a goal likely to haunt them for a long time to come.

The Kangaroos' win came on the back of ultra-slick ball movement, provided by the evergreen Brent Harvey (37 possessions), fine speed and finishing from Daniel Wells (four goals) and solid rebounding defence from Lachie Hansen (30 disposals and a goal). Despite the best efforts of Stevie Johnson (28 touches and a goal), Shannon Motlop (three goals and 21 possessions) and Mitch Duncan (23 disposals and two goals).

Geelong's loss saw them slip to third on the ladder, with Sydney's win over the Western Bulldogs enabling them to jump into second place. However, Hawthorn's unexpected loss to Richmond on Saturday means that the Cats are still very much in the race for a place in the top two, and even top place. Their last four rounds will see them take on Port Adelaide at home, West Coast at Subiaco, and Sydney and Brisbane at Kardinia Park.

North, three games away from eighth, will still harbour some hopes of September action, with the threat of the loss of premiership points still hanging over Essendon. The Kangaroos run home entails matches against Adelaide at Football Park, Essendon, Hawthorn and Collingwood.

GOALS
North Melbourne: Wells 4; Bastinac 3; Adams 2; Hansen, Mullett, Jacobs, Ziebell, Petrie, Thomas
Geelong: Motlop 3; Vardy, Duncan 2; Stokes, Hawkins, Varcoe, Johnson. Smedts, Taylor

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Geelong: Nil

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
North Melbourne: Harvey, Wells, Hansen, Thompson, Mullett, Adams, Atley
Geelong: Johnson, Bartel, Duncan, Motlop, Enright, Stokes, Selwood

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
North Melbourne: Harvey, Wells, Mullett, Ziebell, Adams, Bastinac
Geelong: Johnson, Kelly, Motlop, Selwood, Enright, Duncan

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Ben Jacobs replaced by Brad McKenzie in the final quarter
Geelong: Trent West replaced by Billie Smedts in the third quarter

UMPIRES: McBurney, Dalgleish, Stevic

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Leigh Matthews, Tom Harley, Matthew Richardson