Pre Game
00:00
When they won the centre bounce clearance in 2022, North Melbourne were able to convert that clearance into an inside 50 from 80 per cent of their chains of this type, second only to Carlton during the Home and Away season in this metric.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:27
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
06:47
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Liam Shiels)
07:44
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Jamaine Jones)
10:10
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
10:22
So far the Kangaroos have started the match a lot better than they did in opening terms in 2022, when they were outscored by a total of 309 points in the opening term, the worst differential in the AFL.
11:39
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
13:01
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
14:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)
16:42
All three of West Coast's clearances recorded in the first quarter have occurred at the Centre Bounce. By comparison, the Kangaroos have won four of their five clearances from stoppages around the ground.
18:15
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)
21:14
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)
21:53
All five goals scored in the first quarter have been launched from possession chains in the defensive half of the ground. West Coast (19.8 points per game) and the Kangaroos (19 points per game) were the only two sides to score less than 20 points per game from defensive half chains in 2022.
24:49
Tristan Xerri has started the game strongly as the leading ruckman for the Kangaroos, recording nine hitouts, four of which were the to advantage of a teammate which has allowed the Kangaroos to win seven of the 10 clearances recorded. However he is in the hands of trainers with an apparent ankle injury.
26:05
Kangaroos Interchange - Tristan Xerri and is possibly out for the game.
27:30
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Ben Cunnington)
28:32
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
29:34
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Luke Shuey)
30:36
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)
31:28
North Melbourne have got a return of 0.3.3 from shots at goal recorded from a mark. They recorded a goalkicking accuracy of 45 per cent in 2022 from this shot source, the lowest accuracy of any side.
32:32
Will Phillips has replaced Tristan Xerri as a medical substitute.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:53
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
01:04
Nick Larkey gets his second goal of the game to get the Kangaroos on the board early in the second term. He scored 6.3.39 against the Eagles in Round 2 last year, his second best points tally of any single game in 2022.
02:30
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)
08:24
Eagles Interchange - Alex Witherden off due to an injury.
08:49
The Kangaroos have used the ball by handpass more successfully than their opposition this term, recording a handball-receive tally of 15-5 thus far. They recorded a handball efficiency of 83.6 per cent in 2022, ranked seventh in the AFL.
09:45
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Josh Goater)
12:48
Both teams have attempted 12 tackles this term. North Melbourne have successfully completed all 12 of their attempts, compared to the Eagles completing just six tackles.
15:42
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jaidyn Stephenson)
18:28
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
18:58
Jack Darling finally gets the Eagles on the board in the second term. The Eagles have recorded just five inside 50 entries this term from 18 possession chains for one scoring shot, compared to 11 inside 50's from 20 possession chains and five shots at goal for the Kangaroos.
19:58
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)
21:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
23:47
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
23:49
Six goals in a row now for the Kangaroos, and the third for Nick Larkey. After scoring 1.3.9 from set shots in the opening term, the Kangaroos have improved their accuracy from this source in the second term, scoring 3.1.19.
26:05
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Jamaine Jones)
30:03
Despite losing their ruckman in the first term, the Kangaroos have built their first half lead off the back of their stoppage work. They lead clearances 21-11, largely off the back of a dominant display from Luke Davies-Uniacke (17 disposals, 13 contested possessions, eight clearances). This has allowed them to outscore their opponents 26-2 from this source.
30:57
Harry Sheezel is putting his hand up to be the opening round NAB AFL Rising Star nomination. He has 16 disposals, 327 metres gained, 11 pressure acts and a game-high 11 uncontested possessions.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:24
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
06:28
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Charlie Comben)
07:16
Both of North Melbourne's goals to start the third term been kicked from within 15 metres of the goal line following quick transitions after intercepting the football and getting deep inside 50 entries. The Kangaroos averaged 1.7 goals per game from this distance in 2022, the fifth-lowest average of any side.
07:45
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Tim Kelly)
07:50
The Eagles get their first goal of the game from a centre bounce clearance. The Eagles have had 62 per cent of the time elapsed this term in their forward half but have found converting that onto the scoreboard difficult.
10:33
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
11:53
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Tom Powell)
13:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Reuben Ginbey)
17:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
19:02
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)
20:56
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
21:16
Jack Petruccelle has replaced Callum Jamieson as a tactical substitute.
21:31
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Liam Ryan)
21:47
Liam Ryan is starting to exert some influence on this match in the third term. Up to 10 disposals, he launched the Eagles last goal through Jamie Cripps and now gets his first of the match. Four of the five scoring shots for West Coast this term have come from general play. They scored just 40 per cent of their points from this source in 2022, ranked last in the AFL.
25:53
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
26:17
Three goals in a row now for the Eagles and the margin is now back under 20 points. Since the Kangaroos last score, the Eagles have flipped the script leading contested possessions count 13-5, clearances 3-2, and have converted three of their five intercept possessions into goals, all from the forward half of the ground.
31:33
The Eagles have taken four marks inside 50 in the third term, after taking just three in the first two quarters, to aid in their comeback. They averaged nine marks inside 50 per game in 2022, ranked second-last in the AFL in this category.
32:38
The Kangaroos have been constantly getting to the ball first at the stoppages despite not having a recognised ruckman available. They won the stoppage first possession count 14-8 in the third term to help them win the clearance count 11-8.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:40
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Liam Ryan)
00:57
After the Kangaroos got the first goal of the first three quarters, West Coast get the first goal of the final term to get the lead back under 10 points. Of their last four goals they have scored, three have been scored from set shots following marks inside 50.
02:04
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)
06:10
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)
09:08
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)
10:21
SCORE
GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)
10:57
Two quick goals to the Kangaroos, including Nick Larkey's sixth to match his tally against the Eagles in Round 2 last season, and the Kangaroos have one hand on their first opening round victory since 2020. Both goals have been launched from stoppages, of which they have won four of the first five clearances this term.
12:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)
13:29
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Liam Ryan)
14:46
SCORE
GOAL - Eagles (Noah Long)
15:12
The Eagles respond with two quick goals of their own to wrestle back the momentum. All three of the Eagles centre bounce clearances have resulted in scores, registering 2.1.13 from this source in the final term.
16:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Bailey Scott)
17:42
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Charlie Comben)
18:12
Dom Sheed has been instrumental in the Eagles resurgence in the final stages of this game. He has game-high's with eight disposals, five contested possessions and four score involvements in the final term.
19:49
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Will Phillips)
22:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)
22:33
Both teams have failed to register a goal from an intercept possession chain in the final term, after combining for 11 goals from this source in the first three quarters.
24:42
Harry Sheezel has become the youngest player on debut to record 30 disposals in a match since 1999.
24:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Eagles (Andrew Gaff)
26:18
With just under three minutes left, the margin is back under a goal for the first time since the start of the second term. Both teams have now kicked three goals from free kicks in this match. West Coast average 1.4 goals per game from this source in 2022, ranked last in the AFL.
28:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Curtis Taylor)
29:43
SCORE
BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
31:22
Outstanding debut matches for Harry Sheezel and Reuben Ginbey in today's match. Sheezel led all players with 34 disposals and 21 uncontested possessions, while Ginbey led all players with 12 tackles and recorded a team-high seven stoppage first possessions.