Match

North Melbourne vs Melbourne

Commentary / 29 Jul 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Blundstone Arena for the North Melbourne v Melbourne Round 19 clash.

59:33

Outs for Kangaroos: N.Larkey, C.Zurhaar, J.Williams

59:34

Ins for Kangaroos: R.Tarrant, B.Preuss, J.Ziebell

59:36

No changes for Demons.

59:40

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

00:00

Since Round 9, North Melbourne has allowed its opposition to score from 51 per cent of inside 50 entries the worst percentage conceded by any side.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

03:04

Both sides are struggling to adjust to the blustery conditions in Hobart. The Kangaroos are kicking at an efficiency of 50 per cent, while the Demons are going at just 30 per cent by foot to start the match.

06:46

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

06:55

The kicking efficiency is only getting worse for both sides. North Melbourne is now at 25 per cent by foot and the Demons are at 20 per cent for the match.

07:12

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

08:37

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

08:47

The first goal of the match goes to North Melbourne on the back of stringing some effective disposals together - 12 in a row, leading to the goal to Jarrad Waite.

09:15

Demons Interchange - Neville Jetta off due to an injury.

12:27

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Braydon Preuss)

14:41

North Melbourne's tackle pressure has been good to start the game, leading the tackle count 18 to nine.

16:12

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

16:37

Despite kicking with a strong breeze, North Melbourne is tending to use handball more than kicking, with just 24 kicks to 42 handballs thus far in the match,

17:51

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

18:36

Melbourne would be pleased with their first quarter to date, taking the lead against the breeze. Both goals have come via intercept possessions. They average 60 points per game from this score source this season, ranked third in the AFL.

19:27

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Andrew Swallow)

21:27

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

26:37

From the 18-minute mark of the quarter, North Melbourne has enjoyed six of the last seven inside 50s, cashing in with three goals from these entries.

26:54

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

28:47

Neville Jetta has been outmarked in his last three one-on-one contests inside his defensive 50. Jetta's ability to neutralise these contests has been a strength of his this season.

29:10

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

29:15

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

29:25

Dom Tyson was prolific for Melbourne in the opening term with 14 disposals and 269 meters gained. Ten of these disposals came via an uncontested possession, but he had a disposal efficiency of just 50 per cent.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:26

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

01:41

Ben Brown kicks his 50th goal for the season. This puts him just one goal behind Lance Franklin in the race for the Coleman Medal. He has kicked 50.22 for the season, an accuracy rate of 69 per cent, ranked second in accuracy of the top 20 goal kickers.

02:08

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

03:36

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)

05:37

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)

09:09

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)

11:07

Contested numbers are even at 58 apiece in what has been a very even game statistically across the board.

11:48

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

13:08

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Dom Tyson)

13:30

Melbourne leads clearances by one, 15 to 14, yet the Kangaroos have outscored the Demons 4.1.25 to 0.1.1 from this score source. This season, the Kangaroos have been outscored by six points per game from this source, ranked 16th.

14:53

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)

15:23

Demons Interchange - Mitch Hannan off due to an injury.

16:59

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

20:05

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)

20:22

Melbourne leads the inside 50 count 13 to three this quarter, enjoying 74 per cent time in forward half for the term. The Demons have outscored the Kangaroos 4.4.28 to 2.0.12 for the quarter.

23:47

Melbourne has been able to generate a lot of repeat entries this quarter, leading the inside 50 count 15 to four. As a result, all four of its goals this quarter have been launched from its forward half, with three goals being launched from inside 50.

28:52

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jayden Hunt)

29:12

Melbourne regain the lead on the back of another intercept possession, its fourth goal from this source for the quarter. It was the Demons fourth goal launched from a forward 50 chain for the quarter and their fifth for the match.

30:12

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)

31:35

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)

32:26

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

32:36

Melbourne had a strong quarter with the breeze kicking 6.5.41 to 2.0.12. They led the inside 50 count 19 to six for the term and had an advantage of six in contested possession and 25 for overall disposals.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:16

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

05:07

Jordan Lewis is enjoying a role behind the football. He has 21 disposals at an efficiency of 81 per cent, eight contested possessions and a team-high six possession gains.

08:25

Kangaroos Interchange - Aaron Mullett off due to an injury.

08:43

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

09:09

Ben Brown's fourth goal ties him with Lance Franklin on 51 goals for the competition lead. It was North Melbourne's fifth goal from the match from a stoppage chain. They rank sixth in the AFL from scores from stoppages this season.

09:53

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

10:50

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

12:56

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Scott D. Thompson)

13:23

Kangaroos Interchange - Jarrad Waite and is possibly out for the game.

13:29

In the last five minutes, North Melbourne have been very efficient, totalling 10 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, three inside 50s and three goals.

15:23

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)

16:33

Clayton Oliver has been huge around the contest for Melbourne, with 20 disposals, 14 via a contested possession, eight clearances, seven tackles and a goal.

19:33

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

21:08

Luke McDonald has a match-high 570 metres gained for the match, with 12 of his 16 disposals coming via foot. Michael Hibberd leads the Demons in this area with 523 metres gained, with 14 of his 18 disposals being kicks.

24:32

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)

25:21

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Sam Durdin)

29:44

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)

31:28

Despite going goalless in the third term, Melbourne wouldn't be unhappy with their position, being only a goal down. They narrowly won contested ball and clearances by one each for the quarter and despite the wind, only lost inside 50s by four.

31:31

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

31:41

Luke McDonald was huge for the Kangaroos in the third term. His seven disposals generated 331 metres for his side, an average of 47 metres per disposal. He also laid six tackles, had five inside 50s and kicked a goal.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:05

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

02:34

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

05:19

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jeff Garlett)

06:38

Kangaroos Interchange - Braydon Preuss off due to an injury.

06:39

Clayton Oliver has a match-high 20 contested possessions and 12 clearances. Of these contested possessions, 13 have been stoppage first possessions and only five of them have come post-clearance.

07:41

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)

11:40

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

13:08

Max Gawn hasn't had a disposal this quarter but has amassed 11 hit-outs, with six of these being to advantage. It has given Melbourne a seven to four advantage in clearances this quarter.

14:49

SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)

19:31

North Melbourne are hanging on brilliantly against the wind in the final quarter. Despite only going at 46 per cent by foot compared to Melbourne's 73 per cent for the term, they lead contested possession by five and still maintain a slim lead.

19:32

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

25:23

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

26:07

Clayton Oliver has had 10 disposals this quarter, all handballs, with nine coming via a contested possession. He has a remarkable 26 contested possessions for the match, the second highest tally recorded in a match this year.

27:34

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)

28:13

SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Michael Hibberd)

31:06

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

31:16

North Melbourne won the contested ball 44 to 36 in the last quarter and clearances 13 to 10. The Kangaroos outscored Melbourne 6.3.39 to 2.5.17 from stoppages for the match.