Match

North Melbourne vs St Kilda

Commentary / 30 Mar 2018

Pre Game

00:00
Despite winning last week, the Saints lost the clearance count by 17 which is their equal-worst differential recorded since Round 2, 2015.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:40
A couple of repeat stoppages to start the game today. Last week there were only 47 around the ground stoppages in the St Kilda v Brisbane game (the least of the round), and there were 89 in the Kangaroos game against Gold Coast in the wet.
01:40
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
02:47
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)
03:44
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)
04:08
North Melbourne has generated the first five inside 50 entries to start the game on the back of three intercept marks, but missed all three set shots at goal.
05:43
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jake Carlisle)
05:55
The Saints get the first goal of the game from just their first forward 50 entry, and from a chain started in the defensive 50. Last week St Kilda scored a competition-high 43 points from such chains (the next best return was just 26 points).
08:58
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)
09:35
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jed Anderson)
09:47
Another missed set shot at goal from the Kangaroos who now lead the inside 50 count 9-1, clearances 3-0 and intercept marks 4-1, but with some sloppy foot skills trail in effective disposals 10-27.
15:26
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
15:40
The Kangaroos have already generated 13 forward half intercepts but only scored 0.5.(5) from these opportunities. Last season, North Melbourne averaged 22 such intercepts per game that generated 27 points.
16:32
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)
18:19
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Koby Stevens)
21:33
Jarrad Waite has a team-high five intercept possessions for the Kangaroos, and also has equal team-highs for tackles (two) and contested possessions (three).
25:52
Kangaroos Interchange - Nathan Hrovat off due to an injury.
26:27
Kangaroos Interchange - Trent Dumont off due to an injury.
27:38
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
27:48
A scrappy first quarter ends with St Kilda in front by two points despite trailing the inside 50 count 9-17. North Melbourne had kicking efficiency of only 58 percent (the AFL average in 2017 was 66 percent).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:30
The Kangaroos finally get their first goal, and it comes from a defensive 50 chain. Ironically in a game with errant kicking both goals so far have come from clean passages of play started in the defensive 50.
04:45
Jimmy Webster has game-highs for both intercept possessions (six) and disposals (16) in a prominent display for the Saints.
05:21
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Ben Long)
05:55
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jade Gresham)
06:17
A forward 50 intercept and clever finish from Jade Gresham gets the Saints second goal. St Kilda averaged 31 points from 25 forward half intercepts in 2017, and today has scored 1.1.(7) from seven such intercepts.
06:57
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Ben Long)
10:09
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Trent Dumont)
10:58
North Melbourne is doing well to disrupt the ball movement of St Kilda and has already taken 11 intercept marks. The Kangaroos averaged 14 per game last season.
11:49
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nathan Hrovat)
13:16
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
14:09
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
15:05
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Paddy McCartin)
15:38
The two teams have now had a combined 20 shots at goal for a return of just three goals.
16:53
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)
17:17
Jarrad Waite breaks the run of set shot misses for North Melbourne with an accurate kick from the forward pocket. The goal came from a defensive half chain for the Kangaroos after St Kilda had generated eight of the previous 11 forward 50 entries.
20:32
North Melbourne lead in forward 50 marks 10-6 (averaged 13 such marks per game last season) and lead 13-7 in intercept marks.
20:56
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)
22:46
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
25:01
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Hunter Clark)
27:01
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (David Armitage)
27:59
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
28:09
Both teams guilty of poor kicking at goal in the first half, with a combined return of 2.11 from set shots at goal undoing the work in generating forward 50 marks.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:50
Saints Interchange - Billy Longer off due to an injury.
01:21
A clever goal from Ben Brown to start the third quarter after North Melbourne had 12 of the first 13 disposals this quarter.
02:45
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)
03:06
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
03:24
North Melbourne has been able to generate three shots at goal in the third quarter while St Kilda has had only two disposals.
03:45
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jed Anderson)
04:34
Another good snap at goal from North Melbourne, this time from Jed Anderson, and both goals have come following forward half intercepts.
06:00
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
06:46
North Melbourne lead 22-6 in effective disposals and 5-1 in forward 50 entries this quarter, with three early goals coming from this dominance.
07:43
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
08:43
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steele)
09:04
A strong piece of work from Jack Steele gets the Saints a goal against the flow of play. After only four goals in the entire first half, there have already been four goals kicked this quarter.
12:47
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Rushed)
13:22
Kangaroos Interchange - Ben Cunnington off due to an injury.
13:46
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
15:19
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
16:00
This quarter the Kangaroos lead contested possessions (25-14) and inside 50 entries (13-3) with the Saints under siege.
16:54
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Jack Steven)
17:29
A good passage of play by the Saints led to the Jack Steven goal. Steven has had more forward 50 disposals (four) and inside 50 entries (six) than any other Saint today.
18:31
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
21:05
The last goal to Ben Brown was the first goal of the game to come from a stoppage. North Melbourne averaged 36 points from stoppages in 2017 (ranked second).
21:42
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Todd Goldstein)
24:15
SCORE GOAL - Saints (Blake Acres)
24:30
The goal of the day from Blake Acres who has been relatively quiet offensively today. Last week Acres recorded career-highs for contested possessions (12), intercept possessions (eight) and Player Rating points (24.3).
30:05
Ben Jacobs has a game-high eight tackles, to go with seven contested possessions and four score involvements in a strong defensive role on Seb Ross (15 disposals).
30:56
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
31:06
Shaun Higgins leads North Melbourne for metres gained (423), effective disposals (13) and score assists (four).

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:22
Five goals now to Ben Brown who has been the target of 12 inside 50 entries for North Melbourne. No other Kangaroo has been targeted on more than three occasions.
04:43
Jake Carlisle has disrupted many of the Kangaroo attacks with ten intercept possessions (including five intercept marks), six spoils, and two tackles while winning three of his five one-on-one contests.
07:03
A game-high 23 point lead to the Kangaroos, who now have a 26-14 advantage in shots at goal and a 14-7 lead in forward 50 marks.
09:06
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
09:13
In a game marred by goal kicking inaccuracy, Ben Brown has now kicked 6.1 for the Kangaroos, and North Melbourne has now had 10 of the last 11 inside 50 entries.
11:05
Saints Interchange - Billy Longer and is possibly out for the game.
12:21
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nathan Hrovat)
12:53
At this stage North Melbourne showing no signs of the wet weather slog last week. The Kangaroos have four goals in a row, and none of these goals have come from forward half chains, but from slick ball movement the Saints can not disrupt.
15:55
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)
16:13
Billy Hartung joins the goal kickers, and the former Hawk has equal team-highs for disposals (21) and uncontested possessions (13) in a prominent role for the Kangaroos who have a 34-13 advantage for inside 50 entries in the second half.
17:53
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Tim Membrey)
19:30
SCORE BEHIND - Saints (Paddy McCartin)
20:28
North Melbourne lead 8-1 in gathers from hitouts in the second half with the Saints missing the ruck work of the injured Billy Longer.
22:16
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)
22:58
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Jacobs)
23:18
Ben Jacobs caps his strong game with a late goal from outside 50. Jacobs has had a game-high nine tackles and has contributed offensively with six score involvements.
24:41
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Cunnington)
24:59
Seven unanswered goals to the Kangaroos who have dismantled the Saints in the second half. North Melbourne have dominated the final quarter at the contest (42-27 contested possessions) and in field position (18-6 inside 50 entries)
29:45
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:55
A fantastic win for the Kangaroos who overcame early inaccuracy to dismantle the Saints with a seven goal to nil final quarter. Ben Brown with six goals and Jarrad Waite with 11 score involvements were prominent up forward for the winners.