Match

North Melbourne vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 03 Jun 2018

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Etihad Stadium for the North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions Round 11 clash.

59:33

Outs for Kangaroos: R.Clarke, S.Durdin

59:34

Ins for Kangaroos: M.Daw, P.Ahern

59:35

Outs for Lions: J.Berry, M.Eagles

59:36

Ins for Lions: B.Keays, R.Lester

59:40

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

00:00

Over the past four weeks, Brisbane has retained possession from 52 percent of its kicks into the forward 50 (ranked second) and scored a goal from 28 percent of its inside 50 entries (ranked third).

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:45

Jarrad Waite a very late out for the Kangaroos gives Tom Murphy a debut for North Melbourne. Murphy has averaged 15 disposals and four intercept possessions as a defender in seven VFL games this season.

01:07

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

01:34

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)

02:15

The opening goal to the Kangaroos was sourced from a forward half intercept. This season North Melbourne averages 27 forward half intercepts (ranked fourth) and 30 points from these intercepts (ranked seventh).

03:51

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jed Anderson)

04:13

Paul Ahern is also making his AFL debut today for North Melbourne, and after multiple knee injuries, has averaged 24 disposals, 13 contested possessions and five clearances in his six VFL games this season.

04:36

Kangaroos Interchange - Jed Anderson and is possibly out for the game.

05:01

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Daniel McStay)

05:34

North Melbourne has won eight of the first ten contested possessions to start the game. The Kangaroos have won the contested possession count by an average of eight per game this season (ranked second).

06:26

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

09:00

The second goal for the Kangaroos was sourced from a defensive half stoppage and launched by a hitout to advantage by Todd Goldstein. The North Melbourne ruck is averaging 9.4 such hitouts this season, which is his lowest return since 2012.

09:04

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

10:26

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Daniel McStay)

11:25

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

15:19

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

16:00

A second goal from a forward half intercept by the Kangaroos, with the promising Jy Simpkin converting. North Melbourne has now scored 2.1.(13) from its four forward half intercepts, while Brisbane has not scored from six such intercepts.

16:06

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

17:04

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

17:16

Lions Interchange - Allen Christensen and is possibly out for the game.

17:46

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

18:03

North Melbourne has won the first four centre bounce clearances and scored 0.2.(2) from these chances. The Kangaroos have averaged only five points from such clearances this season (ranked last), while in 2017 they averaged a competition-high 15 points.

20:14

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

22:02

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

22:14

The Kangaroos have generated 11 scores from their first 13 inside 50 entries. This season they have averaged a score from 45 percent of their inside 50 entries.

23:53

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

23:56

Another goal sourced from a forward half stoppage for the Kangaroos who now lead the clearances 12-5, and scores from stoppages 22-1.

25:53

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Ben Keays)

26:23

North Melbourne lead forward 50 marks 7-2, and has six different players contributing to this count, despite Ben Brown being the target of seven kicks into the forward 50.

28:35

North Melbourne has again received great service from Ben Cunnington who has game-highs for contested possessions (seven) and clearances (four), and Shaun Higgins with a game-high 14 disposals and four score involvements.

28:50

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:53

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)

01:02

The second quarter opens perfectly for the Kangaroos with the Ben Brown goal sourced from a centre bounce clearance. The Kangaroos have already scored 28 points from stoppages, and only average 32 points from this source.

02:20

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Oscar McInerney)

02:42

The Lions finally get their first goal and it came following a centre bounce clearance. Brisbane is actually ranked third this season for differential in scores from stoppages.

03:30

Lions Interchange - Mitch Robinson off due to an injury.

04:29

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Todd Goldstein)

05:02

The goal to Todd Goldstein came after he took the ninth forward 50 mark for the Kangaroos. North Melbourne averages only ten such marks per game this season.

05:42

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Beams)

07:32

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Jacobs)

07:57

The Kangaroos have three goals from three forward 50 entries this quarter, while the under siege Brisbane has only been able to record three uncontested possessions this quarter.

10:43

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)

12:24

An accurate set shot from Dayne Beams caps a period of three consecutive inside 50 entries for the Lions. Brisbane has now scored 1.1.(7) from nine forward half intercepts compared to North Melbourne 3.2.(20) from seven such intercepts.

13:22

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

14:00

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)

14:17

Brisbane is continuing to struggle defensively, and has now conceded a massive 17 scores from 21 entries to the Kangaroos.

15:33

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

18:37

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)

19:21

In the second quarter, North Melbourne lead 55-22 in uncontested possessions, with Brisbane unable to disrupt the ball movement of the Kangaroos.

19:49

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Sam Wright)

20:13

An opportunistic goal from Sam Wright gives the Kangaroos their first goal to be launched from a defensive 50 chain. Shaun Higgins was again involved in the scoring chain (score involvement No.7 for the Kangaroo star).

21:27

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Zac Bailey)

23:01

The North Melbourne supporters are venting frustration with a 7-12 free kick count against the their team. The Kangaroos have scored 23 goals directly from a free kick this season, which is ranked second.

24:29

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)

26:19

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Marley Williams)

26:48

North Melbourne is continuing to be too strong in the clinches and converting a 22-13 advantage in clearances to a 42-17 lead in scores from stoppages.

28:36

Lions Interchange - Ryan Lester off due to the blood rule.

30:51

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Sam Wright)

31:34

Another impressive phase of play by the Kangaroos ends in a Sam Wright goal. While they lead the inside 50 count 30-23, they have a more emphatic 37-17 lead in forward 50 disposals.

31:50

Lions Interchange - Hugh McCluggage and is possibly out for the game.

32:48

Brisbane has struggled to disrupt the ball movement of North Melbourne, and conceded 21 scores from 30 inside 50 entries (AFL average is 35 percent)..

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

01:22

An indication of the difference in ball movement is evident in North Melbourne scoring 6.4.(40) from 15 forward half chains, while Brisbane has scored 1.3.(9) from 14 forward half chains.

01:32

The third quarter has not started any better for the injury hit Lions with a defensive 50 turnover punished by Jack Ziebell. The unforced turnover count is now 5-1, with North Melbourne punishing these turnovers.

03:53

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)

04:27

North Melbourne has now scored 7.6.(48) from stoppages today, which is already its best return from this source in 2018.

05:30

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Daniel McStay)

09:05

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Tom Cutler)

10:10

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

10:25

North Melbourne lead clearances from throw-ins 11-6, and scores from this source 26-3. The Kangaroos are ranked second this season at both throw-in clearance differential and scores from this source.

10:50

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Daniel McStay)

11:35

Consecutive goals to Daniel McStay who has been the primary target for kicks inside 50 by the Lions (five times) and also has five score involvements for the Lions today.

12:26

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

13:26

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

15:40

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

16:22

The Kangaroos currently lead 5-3 in one-on-one contest wins. This season the Lions have won only 23 percent of their one-on-one contests (ranked last).

17:30

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Ben Keays)

18:08

Three goals in a row to the Lions, with Ben Keays finally converting an opportunity from his third shot at goal. Keays now has a team-high seven score involvements in his first game for Brisbane in 2018.

20:54

In the third quarter, the Lions lead marks 24-14 and uncontested possessions 50-40, and in controlling the ball better have managed to enjoy their best period of the game on the scoreboard.

24:24

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Robbie Tarrant)

24:43

A third 50 metre penalty in the quarter against the Lions led to the Tarrant set shot at goal. North Melbourne has now recorded an accurate 7.3.(45) from its set shots at goal.

25:59

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Oscar McInerney)

27:39

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)

28:41

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lewis Taylor)

29:08

Brisbane has squared the clearances in the third quarter, and scored 2.1.(13) from this source to North Melbourne 1.3.(9) this quarter.

30:37

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

31:33

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)

31:53

North Melbourne has now scored 4.2.(26) from seven forward 50 intercepts which is comfortably its best return from this source in 2018.

33:13

A more even third quarter with both teams adding four goals, but Shaun Higgins now up to 36 disposals which equals the most he has had in a full match in his 193 game career.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:11

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

02:19

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Cam Rayner)

03:35

In the final quarter, Brisbane has won the first three clearances, had the first three inside 50 entries and generated 1.2.(8) during this period.

05:53

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)

08:21

A pair of class goals to Jack Ziebell in the final quarter gives the Kangaroos a return of 8.4.(52) from 20 forward half intercepts. This season they have averaged 30 points from 27 such intercepts.

10:10

Harris Andrews has had his hands full today with Ben Brown, but has managed to disrupt a number of Kangaroos attacks with team-highs for spoils (eight) and intercept possessions (six), along with an equal season-high four tackles.

10:58

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

12:28

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Beams)

12:41

Dayne Beams leads all Brisbane players for disposals (27), score involvements (nine) and goals (three), continuing a prolific streak in recent games.

14:33

In the final quarter, the Lions lead contested possessions (25-14), inside 50 entries (9-3) and disposals (61-33).

15:19

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Zorko)

17:45

North Melbourne lead forward 50 marks 15-11, but have ten players contribute to this count, while only six players have taken a forward 50 mark for the Lions.

18:32

Kangaroos Interchange - Kayne Turner off due to an injury.

18:40

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Beams)

18:51

Brisbane is continuing to outplay North Melbourne in the final quarter, and has now scored eight of the last 12 goals in the game.

21:17

Three goals from just the five inside 50 entries in the final quarter to the Kangaroos. While the inside 50 count is relatively even overall, North Melbourne now lead 70-38 in forward 50 disposals.

23:11

Paul Ahern is now up to 29 disposals on debut, which is the most disposals on debut by any Kangaroo player in the past 20 years.

24:19

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Jacobs)

24:51

The Kangaroos have now scored 5.2.(32) from 10 forward 50 intercepts. This season they have averaged 11 points from five such intercepts.

25:18

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke McDonald)

26:35

SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Mitch Robinson)

27:49

Luke McDonald now has a career-high 34 disposals for the Kangaroos which have included nine score involvements and two goals.

28:16

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

29:25

SCORE GOAL - Lions (Dayne Beams)

31:17

A big win today for the Kangaroos who recorded their highest ever score (141) against the Brisbane Lions on the back of advantages in scores from stoppages (58-39) and scores from forward half intercepts (58-26).