Match

Melbourne vs North Melbourne

Commentary / 21 May 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to MCG for the Melbourne v North Melbourne Round 9 clash.

59:34

No changes for Demons.

59:35

Outs for Kangaroos: T.Dumont, J.Anderson, J.Simpkin, S.Durdin

59:36

Ins for Kangaroos: J.Waite, A.Swallow, A.Mullett, T.Garner

59:40

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

00:00

Melbourne has averaged 15.1 centre-clearances per game, ranked equal-third in the competition. This comes despite missing the reigning All-Australian ruckman, Max Gawn, through injury sustained against Geelong in round three.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:50

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

01:38

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

03:37

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

04:59

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

05:20

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)

06:03

North Melbourne are controlling the game with their dominance at stoppages. Ben Cunnington has won two first possessions from a stoppage, both following a hitout to advantage from Todd Goldstein.

07:38

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Cunnington)

09:24

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

10:59

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

11:13

Ben Brown has been the focal point for North Melbourne this season being their main marking target when going inside their attacking 50. He has been targeted 80 times in the first eight rounds, ranked fifth in the competition.

12:30

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)

14:43

North Melbourne is winning the territory battle this quarter with 47 per cent of the game being played inside their attacking 50. In comparison, only 14 per cent of the play has been inside the attacking 50 for the Demons.

16:10

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

18:25

Kangaroos Interchange - Ben Cunnington off due to an injury.

18:27

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Nathan Jones)

19:25

After a slow start, the Demon midfielders have won the last five clearances. They lead ball-up clearances four to nil, and are being strongly led by Jordan Lewis who has won the past two.

19:44

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

21:31

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)

23:04

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Marley Williams)

23:59

North Melbourne is capitalising on the Melbourne turnovers with nine of their scoring shots sourced from intercept chains. They have an overall 25 point advantage from scores sourced from a turnover.

24:12

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

25:11

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

26:50

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Todd Goldstein)

28:29

The first quarter has been the best scoring quarter for North Melbourne this season. They have also been their best quarter for scores against averaging just 2.6 goals against in opening terms.

30:15

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jordan Lewis)

31:22

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

32:05

Dom Tyson has had a great first quarter recording a game-high eight disposals. He also has game-high totals for clearances (three), contested possessions (six) and intercept possessions (three).

34:18

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

34:28

North Melbourne laid 37 tackles in the first quarter, a season-high for the club. Their previous best was 25 in their round one encounter against the Eagles. Andrew Swallow laid six tackles in his return to the senior side.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:16

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

04:11

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

04:58

The Demons have started the second term in ferocious fashion. They have won seven contested possessions as well as winning three more clearances. They have recorded the first four inside 50s leading to two goals for Mitch Hannan.

06:36

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

08:38

In contrast to the first quarter, it is the Demons who are winning the territory battle this quarter. They are winning time in forward half with 71 per cent this quarter, and have enjoyed the play in their attacking 50 for 43 per cent of the quarter.

09:17

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Viney)

12:42

The pressure applied by both sides this quarter has been extremely high. Both sides have a pressure factor of over 220, up from the league average of 179. Luke McDonald has applied the most pressure acts in the match with 15.

14:08

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

15:57

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

16:36

A classy deliberate snap goal by North forward Mason Wood breaks the three goal streak by the Demons. Wood has seen increased midfield time this season, with 73 per cent of his disposals being won in between the forward and defensive arcs.

17:03

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

19:46

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

21:46

Melbourne captain Jack Viney has been involved in everything this quarter collecting more disposals than any other player with eight. He has won six contested possessions along with his three clearances and also has booted a goal.

22:56

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Mitch Hannan)

25:05

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Cameron Pedersen)

25:36

Mitch Hannan has been lively in the forward line for Melbourne this quarter booting three goals to go with a goal assist from his five disposals. This has come from just 63 per cent time on ground.

26:17

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Frost)

30:21

Melbourne has restricted North Melbourne to just eight inside 50s for the quarter whilst entering their attacking 50 zone on 17 occasions. They have won 13 more contested possessions and accumulated 22 more disposals this quarter.

30:56

Demons Interchange - Neville Jetta off due to an injury.

31:36

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

35:54

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

36:04

Melbourne kicked the last three goals of the quarter to reduce the margin to two points at half time. This is the closest they have been since the seventh minute mark of the first quarter.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:21

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

03:42

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

04:57

Nathan Jones leads Melbourne in metres gained with 370. He has a game-high seven inside 50s to go with three score involvements. For North, captain Jack Ziebell has the most metres gained with 340 from his 14 disposals.

05:55

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

07:49

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

08:14

North Melbourne has transitioned the ball effectively from their kick ins. 43 per cent of their kick in possession chains has resulted in an inside 50, whereas the Demons are going at only 10 per cent from chains originating from the same source.

10:05

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

13:05

87 per cent of the quarter has been played in the attacking half for North Melbourne. This has resulted in the last 11 inside 50s for North Melbourne and they have capitalised with three consecutive goals.

14:01

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

17:34

North Melbourne have scored 45 more points from turnovers than Melbourne. They have applied 12 more pressure acts in their forward 50, led by Nathan Hrovat who has 10 in this zone. The most for the Demons is Jeff Garlett with five.

19:12

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Neville Jetta)

21:01

After losing the contested possession battle in the second term by 13, North Melbourne have reversed this result in the third quarter with an advantage of 15. They also lead the clearances by one this quarter.

21:31

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

23:31

Ben Brown has kicked the last three goals for the Kangaroos to take his overall match haul to five. This is just the second time Brown has kicked five or more goals in a match, both times occurring this season.

23:51

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tomas Bugg)

27:58

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tomas Bugg)

28:06

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:02

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

02:29

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Salem)

02:37

Melbourne kick the crucial first goal of the last quarter despite North Melbourne having the first three inside 50s to start the quarter. This was the second goal for the Demons from a scoring chain originating in their defensive 50.

05:02

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tomas Bugg)

05:39

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)

06:44

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tomas Bugg)

07:02

The Demons have kicked three of the last four goals as they try and reduce the nine point deficit. Melbourne has only been in front for 43 seconds of the match. Tom Bugg has kicked four behinds in the past 14 minutes of playing time.

11:32

The North Melbourne defenders have been under siege this quarter. They have grabbed four intercept marks in their defensive half this quarter and have taken nine overall in this zone.

12:10

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bernie Vince)

13:10

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jordan Lewis)

14:04

In the last 10 minutes, the Demons have been inside 50 on eight occasions compared to just two for North. They have pressured North into nine turnovers and restricted them to just 54 per cent kicking efficiency in this time-frame.

15:45

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

17:10

Both sides are winless from games decided by less than 10 points this season. North Melbourne have lost three games and Melbourne have lost two games in their respective close encounters.

20:44

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

24:23

Ben Cunnington has excelled in the contested game today. He has won 17 contested possessions, five more than any other player. He has collected the most disposals for his side with 26 and has a game-high eight clearances.

24:35

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Dean Kent)

26:05

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

31:10

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

31:20

North Melbourne has seen off the challenge put to them by the Demons after conceding the first three goals of the quarter. They won six more clearances in the last quarter after trailing by 11 at three-quarter time.