Match

North Melbourne vs Carlton

Commentary / 14 Apr 2018

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Blundstone Arena for the North Melbourne v Carlton Round 4 clash.

59:33

Outs for Kangaroos: N.Hrovat

59:34

Ins for Kangaroos: R.Tarrant

59:35

Outs for Blues: C.Marchbank, J.Lamb, C.Polson

59:36

Ins for Blues: L.O'Brien, J.Silvagni, C.O'Shea

00:00

The Blues have averaged eight forward 50 marks per game this season (ranked last), and have retained possession from only 40 percent of their kicks into the forward 50 this season, which is the second-lowest percentage recorded by any team.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:30

The opening clearance of the game goes to the Blues in difficult conditions. North Melbourne has won a centre bounce first possession only 34 percent of the time this season, which is ranked last.

03:02

The first four inside 50 entries of the game belong to Carlton who is kicking with the wind in the opening quarter. None of these entries have lead to a forward 50 mark, a measure that Carlton is ranked last in.

07:20

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Matthew Wright)

07:30

Matthew Wright gets the opening goal of the game following a possession chain that started at a stoppage in the defensive 50. This was the first score of the season to the Blues from such a source.

09:25

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

11:10

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

11:48

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

11:53

North Melbourne has assigned Ben Jacobs to the role of running with Patrick Cripps. The star Blue has won 29 first possessions at a stoppage this season (ranked No.5 in the competition).

12:57

The first goal for the Kangaroos came from a defensive half intercept, and capped a run of four consecutive inside 50 entries for North Melbourne. The Kangaroos have averaged 25 points this season from defensive half intercepts.

17:42

North Melbourne has done well in the first quarter to deny Carlton any control of the ball when kicking with the wind. The Kangaroos lead intercept possessions (11-7) and tackles (14-7), while also shading the Blues for time in forward half (56 percent)

18:41

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

19:51

North Melbourne is currently able to outnumber Carlton at the ball with a 12-5 advantage in loose-ball gets.

20:24

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

21:00

Three goals in a row to the Kangaroos, with the last two both coming from stoppages. North Melbourne is ranked last this season for differential in scores from stoppages, being outscored by an average of 15 points.

22:19

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

23:17

North Melbourne leads 12-5 in first possession wins at stoppages with Todd Goldstein giving the Kangaroos a 3-0 lead in hitouts to advantage.

25:05

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jamie Macmillan)

25:50

Despite having had more of the ball, the Kangaroos also the tackle count 17-12 in an indication of the work rate of the North Melbourne team in the opening quarter.

27:01

In the last ten minutes, the Kangaroos lead in effective kicks 12-0.

29:11

Ben Brown has won seven contested possessions in the opening quarter. Carlton has eight players who are yet to win a contested possession.

29:23

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

30:48

North Melbourne had 13 of the last 15 inside 50 entries in the first quarter, and generated nine consecutive scores during this period.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:56

North Melbourne lead intercept marks 5-1, and is ranked equal second in this measure, with an average of 18 per game.

02:11

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Jarrod Garlett)

03:04

A good start to the second quarter for the Blues with a goal from a forward half intercept. Carlton averages only 18 points from this source (ranked second last).

05:13

Carlton has won the first four clearances and generated the first four inside 50 entries to start the second quarter.

06:08

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

09:47

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

10:23

Shaun Higgins leads all players for score involvements (five), and has had more disposals than any other Kangaroo (12). Higgins is the No.1 ranked player at the club for score assists this season.

10:58

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Zac Fisher)

12:33

North Melbourne now lead forward 50 marks 5-1, with three of these marks taken by Ben Brown. The Kangaroos also lead 5-1 in contested marks and 6-2 in one-on-one contest wins.

13:04

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

16:25

North Melbourne has scored three goals from stoppages, with all of these coming from around the ground ball-ups. At these stoppages the Kangaroos lead hitouts to advantage 4-1 and first possession wins 8-1.

16:31

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)

17:18

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jed Anderson)

19:59

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

20:13

Ben Brown is continuing to prove deadly accurate in front of goal, with a return of 4.1 tonight. Brown has recorded a shot at goal accuracy of 83 percent this season, which is ranked No.1 of the top-10 goal kickers in the AFL.

22:14

In the last ten minutes, the Kangaroos lead time in forward half (76 percent) and the inside 50 count 7-0, with the game getting away from the Blues.

24:14

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

24:53

Five goals in a row to the Kangaroos, who lead scores from stoppages 26-7 and scores from turnovers 34-7.

26:40

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Jack Silvagni)

27:52

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Jack Silvagni)

28:38

Two of the three Carlton goals tonight have come from defensive 50 chains. The Blues average 16 points per game from such a source this season (ranked 12th).

32:36

A strong first half from the Kangaroos who have dominated on the ground (ground-ball gets 67-51) and in the air (contested marks 5-2, forward 50 marks 6-1 and intercept marks 7-4).

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:22

Carlton has taken the first ten marks of the third quarter with some slow possession style football, but conceded the first four inside 50 entries to the Kangaroos.

04:08

Blues Interchange - Jacob Weitering off due to an injury.

04:39

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

07:59

Ben Brown is continuing to make the Carlton defenders nervous, and has now drawn four free kicks, with North Melbourne doing well to return of 6.3.(39) from its set shots at goal in blustery conditions.

10:42

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

12:02

Blues Interchange - Zac Fisher off due to an injury.

12:23

North Melbourne has retained possession from 69 percent of its inside 50 entries, while Carlton has retained possession from only 50 percent of its entries. The Kangaroos are ranked last in 2018 at restricting such opposition kicks.

13:55

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

14:46

North Melbourne has averaged 17 points this season from chains started in the defensive midfield. Tonight the Kangaroos have already scored 5.2.(32) from such chains, with Carlton unable to disrupt the Kangaroo ball movement.

19:51

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)

19:57

The Kangaroos have now kicked 12 of the last 14 goals, with the last goal coming after the Blues had generated five consecutive inside 50 entries without reward.

21:45

Jed Anderson already has a career-high 18 disposals for the Kangaroos, to go with 11 contested possessions and five tackles in a promising performance from the injury ravaged former Hawk.

21:50

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

24:22

Shaun Higgins has contributed 28 disposals (no other player on the ground has 20), which includes seven score involvements and a game-high 13 contested possessions.

24:34

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

27:35

North Melbourne now lead the hitouts to advantage 9-2 and first possession wins at stoppages 37-24.

27:39

North Melbourne has received good drive from Luke McDonald has an equal game-high seven intercept possessions, contributed 416 metres gained and also had eight score involvements.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:29

SCORE GOAL - Blues (Jarrod Garlett)

01:11

An early goal to start the final quarter to the Blues, who have kicked the opening goal in three of the four quarters tonight.

04:07

The Blues lead the contested possession count 10-3 and disposals 16-6 in the final quarter in a rare period of ascendancy.

04:45

Blues Interchange - Matthew Kennedy off due to an injury.

05:18

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)

07:07

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

07:23

A career-high three goals to Shaun Atley, who also has an equal-game high nine score involvements including two score assists.

09:07

North Melbourne has generated 6.3.(39) from 20 forward half intercepts. Carlton has scored 1.1.(7) from 19 such intercepts.

10:21

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

10:28

Forward 50 marks are now 10-2 in favour of the Kangaroos, who have had the last eight inside 50 entries, and in the last ten minutes had the ball in their forward half 84 percent of the time.

14:12

North Melbourne lead intercept marks 17-8, with Scott Thompson and Robbie Tarrant contributing eight of these marks. The Kangaroos also lead contested marks 9-4, and one-on-one contest wins 10-6.

15:08

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Rushed)

16:30

SCORE BEHIND - Blues (Zac Fisher)

19:30

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

20:04

Jack Ziebell has been the target of six forward 50 kicks tonight, playing primarily as a third forward option, and been involved in eight scores with three of these being goals he has kicked.

21:57

Carlton has only lost to North Melbourne twice in its history by more than the 85 points the current margin is. The Blues lowest ever score against the Kangaroos is 32 points (round 15, 1965).

22:04

Blues Interchange - Dale Thomas off due to an injury.

27:57

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)

28:12

North Melbourne has recorded its third biggest ever win against Carlton with an 86 point victory. The Kangaroos dominated contested possessions (161-132) and inside 50 entries (58-42), providing opportunities for a rampant forward line.