Match

North Melbourne vs Melbourne

Commentary / 24 Aug 2019

Pre Game

00:00
North Melbourne has recorded the best post-clearance contested possession differential in the forward 50 zone over the last four weeks. Ben Brown has led the way, winning the second-most contested possessions in this zone of all players in this time frame.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:09
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)
03:45
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
03:55
North Melbourne, aided by a strong breeze, has kicked the first goal of the match through captain Jack Ziebell. They have won the first four clearances of the match, as well as the first three inside 50s.
07:05
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
08:05
Bailey Fritsch has taken a great mark over the top of the retiring Scott Thompson to boot Melbourne's first goal of the match. Since round 17, Fritsch has spent 89% of his time in the forward line. This is a distinct role change for Fritsch, after playing just eight percent of his time in the forward line in the opening 16 rounds.
09:09
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
11:16
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
12:22
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jared Polec)
12:55
North Melbourne's forward line is looking potent, scoring four times from their first five forward 50 entries. This 80% scoring conversion from their inside 50s is well above their season average of 44%.
15:32
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
17:27
Melbourne has been the more composed side when using the football by foot, recording a kicking efficiency of 82% compared to North Melbourne's 50%. This is a dramatic improvement for the Demons, after recording a poor kicking efficiency of 55% last week against the Swans.
18:16
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
20:16
After conceding the first four clearances of the match, the Demons have gained the ascendancy in this area winning seven of the last eight clearances. This has been the main source of Melbourne's scores, with three of their four scores being sourced from stoppages.
21:35
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nathan Hrovat)
25:01
North Melbourne are playing a slow and methodical style of play with their ball movement, playing on immediately from 20% of their marks today. They average a play on from a mark 23% of the time this season – the second-lowest rate recorded of any side.
25:23
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
27:25
Clayton Oliver has enjoyed an influential opening term, leading the match in disposals (nine), contested possessions (five), and clearances (four). Oliver's most clearances in a quarter this season is six.
27:58
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
28:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
30:59
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Marley Williams)
31:03
A goal on the siren to Marley Williams has reduced North Melbourne's deficit to four points at quarter-time. The Demons lead has been built on their work at the source, leading clearances by four and winning seven more contested possessions.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
04:55
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jared Polec)
05:20
Kangaroos Interchange - Marley Williams off due to an injury.
05:55
North Melbourne has scored 20 of its 28 points from forward 50 launches so far this match. The Kangaroos average 15 points from forward 50 launches in 2019 - ranked eighth.
07:39
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
08:47
North Melbourne has won seven forward half intercepts and has scored three goals from these intercepts. In comparison, the Demons are scoreless from their five forward half intercepts.
10:10
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
12:08
The Demons have struggled with their forward 50 entries this season, averaging a score from 38% of their inside 50s - ranked last. Today Melbourne has scored from 33% of their inside 50s.
15:16
Christian Petracca, playing the majority of this match in the midfield, is yet to win a disposal this quarter after winning eight in the opening term. Petracca has won 64% of his disposals this season in the midfield zone, his lowest percentage recorded in his career.
15:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
19:57
The Kangaroos won the uncontested possession count by 165 against the Power last round – their best differential recorded since 1999. Melbourne has taken this strength away from the Kangaroos today, with the Demons leading the uncontested possession count by 30.
21:54
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jayden Hunt)
24:41
Angus Brayshaw has attended seven centre bounces today, keeping on track with his average of 17 attendances over the last four weeks. This has been a change in role for Brayshaw, who only attended an average of 11 centre bounces in the opening 17 rounds.
27:26
Scores are all level at Blundstone Arena at half-time, with both sides struggling to score in the blustery conditions. North Melbourne has applied 18 more forward half pressure acts than the Demons, which has resulted in 11 more points scored from forward half intercepts.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:55
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
02:10
Third quarters have proved telling for North Melbourne this season. The Kangaroos have not lost a game this season when leading at three-quarter time, and they have not won a match when trailing at the final break.
02:58
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
04:42
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)
05:17
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Corey Wagner)
06:26
Melbourne has scored their second goal of the match sourced from a kick-in. The Demons have scored the second-most points from kick-ins this season, averaging five points per match from this source.
07:05
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Nathan Jones)
09:09
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
10:49
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
11:01
Coleman Medal leader Ben Brown has kicked his first goal of the match following a downfield free kick. Brown, who has been well held by Sam Frost today, has been targeted six times inside 50 but is yet to take a mark in this zone.
12:43
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
13:38
Max Gawn has pushed forward to kick his first goal of the match for Melbourne. Gawn has had the upper hand against his opponent Todd Goldstein today. Gawn has won three more hitouts to advantage, seven more disposals, two more clearances and sent the ball inside 50 four more times than Goldstein.
15:08
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)
16:44
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
18:01
Coming into today's match, the Demons had scored 20 goals for the season from centre bounces - the equal-lowest of any side along with Gold Coast. Today they have kicked four goals from this source - equaling their best result of the season (round three v Essendon).
19:42
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
22:03
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
23:39
Melbourne has extended its lead to a game-high 15 points, and again it's their impressive ball use by foot that is standing out. They have recorded a kicking efficiency of 87% in this quarter, and are on track to beat their best result for a single quarter this season of 80% kicking efficiency.
25:31
Kangaroos Interchange - Jamie Macmillan and is possibly out for the game.
26:39
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Taylor Garner)
29:25
North Melbourne has comprehensively outscored Melbourne from forward 50 launches today. The Kangaroos have scored 6.2(38) from launches in this zone today (two points off their season-high) compared to just the single behind for the Demons.
30:31
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
32:38
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
34:29
Shaun Higgins has accumulated the ball at will this quarter winning 11 disposals at 100% kicking efficiency, six contested possessions and sending the ball inside 50 three times.
36:14
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jared Polec)
36:17
Despite recording eight more inside 50s for the quarter, North Melbourne lost the quarter by one point as a result of poor goalkicking conversion. The Demons kicked six goals straight in the third quarter compared to 5.5(35) for the Kangaroos.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:49
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Braydon Preuss)
02:23
With two clearances won today, Ben Cunnington now takes his season tally to 160 clearances - ranked equal-first with Lion Lachie Neale who plays tomorrow.
05:43
Since 2016, the Demons have won the contested possession count by 17 per game against the Kangaroos – the best differential recorded of any side. This trend continues today, with the Demons leading the differential by seven.
06:24
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
07:44
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Ben Brown)
10:18
Clayton Oliver has now won 18 contested possessions and is up to 10 clearances - both game-highs. Oliver has won more contested possessions this season than any other player.
14:28
North Melbourne is in complete control of the forward half intercepting contest, winning more than double of Melbourne's match total of 14 with 30 of their own. The Kangaroos have converted 5 goals from their forward half intercepts today, compared to just the one goal for the Demons.
14:40
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Mason Wood)
17:09
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
18:46
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jordan Lewis)
19:35
Melbourne has been a poor final quarter side this season. They have been outscored by 27 goals in fourth quarters this season - the worst differential of any side.
20:36
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
20:54
Max Gawn has now booted three goals today - a feat he has only achieved once before in his career. He has also won 26 disposals, which is his third-most ever in a match too. Most importantly, his goal reduces the margin to just one point with six minutes remaining.
21:49
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
23:04
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
24:06
Melbourne has now won 17 more contested possessions than the Kangaroos in this quarter alone. The Demons have all the momentum, having won the last seven clearances and recorded the last six inside 50s.
27:58
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
29:12
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jared Polec)
29:51
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
30:16
A classy late goal to Shaun Higgins has stolen the victory for North Melbourne in a never say die performance. Ben Brown kicked two goals for the match to take his lead in the Coleman Medal to six goals with second-placed Jeremy Cameron to play tonight.