Round 2: North Melbourne v Melbourne

Liam Chambers

Dees surprised by the intensity and skill level of North

Last week’s narrow loss was disappointing as we were so close to victory, but the team’s performance was extremely encouraging. I have a niggling feeling though that we allowed ourselves to become too complacent when taking on last year’s wooden spoon runners up.

As soon as the ball was bounced, North was straight out of the middle and making a beeline for their goal. Nick Larkey was waiting with open hands to mark the uncontested sherrin and converted to open the scoring.

The visitors tried the same trick again, after the second centre bounce, but this time the Demons had a lucky break and eventually took control of the ball.

Melbourne were under siege early as the Roos continuing to attack its defensive 50.

Then, against the run of play, Jacob van Rooyen kicked a superb 35m around the corner set shot from deep in the pocket.

Despite doing the lion’s share of the attacking, North was still only five points ahead as they approached the halfway mark of the opening term. There were close calls but no majors.

Melbourne was making the most of their infrequent scoring opportunities as they presented themselves and when Jack Henderson marked just inside 50, he struck it cleanly to give his side the lead.

Unfortunately, North Melbourne were not playing like a team that was there to make up the numbers, again winning the hitout and streaming goalwards. This time they handpassed amongst themselves until Jy Simpkin marked in the pocket, then slotted the set shot.

Showing no intention to lessen the pressure on Melbourne, the Roos continued to control the territory, ultimately adding to their tally when Paul Curtis tapped one across the line.

By now, the alarm bells would have been sounding in the Demons camp about how North was playing and what we could do to turn our fortunes around.

When Kade Chandler was awarded a 50m penalty that gifted him a 15m kick in front of goal, it helped settle the home side’s nerves and reduced the deficit back to six points.

While North was making few mistakes in defence or attack, Melbourne were now struggling to exert their own pressure.

As the clocked ticked down to quarter time, we needed to show much more desperation if we were to get back to playing the game on our terms.

There was some encouraging signs but our goal kicking accuracy seemed to have temporarily deserted us.

When we did find the back of the net, the rejoicing was short lived as Tom Sparrow’s valiant effort was deemed touched off the boot.

All was not lost however, as Bailey Fritch’s mark in the dying seconds was judged to be legit and the high scoring forward made short work of his set shot to give the Demons a six point advantage at quarter time.

Roos take the lead

At the start of the second term, it appeared that Melbourne was giving their opponents more respect but our game still lacked the ferocity of the Roos.

Eventually, North converted one of their set shots chances when Luke Parker scored his debut goal for his new club.

It was two milestones in a row when Jacob Konstanty scored his first AFL goal to give the Roos a ten points advantage.

Thankfully North’s momentum was arrested when Clayton Oliver snapped one off his left boot, from 40m out, to claw one back for the Dees.

We were unable to build on our own momentum though, as North desperately chased down any effort by Melbourne to get close to goal.

Even when Daniel “Disco” Turner spotted an opportunity to take down Caleb Daniel and was awarded with a 25m set shot, his shot was deemed by the review to have scraped the upright. Where’s our luck?

No such worries for Kade Chandler when his 30m set shot was spot on, returning the lead to the Demons.

After the bounce it looked like Melbourne had turned a corner when Max Gawn won the ball, then ran alongside Tom Sparrow who handpassed to the Captain as the big fella charged forward. Max crossed the arc and launched from 40m. The ball wouldn’t fly straight though, and it was only a minor score.

As is so often the case, the opposition then sprinted back up the other end. Inside the arc, Nick Larkey was manhandled and awarded a free kick but the Roos played on to advantage, and Tom Powell snapped from 20m to restored North’s lead.

When Jack Darling kicked the next goal while loitering around the square, half time couldn’t come soon enough for the Dees.

In fact time appeared to be standing still as the Roos made yet another incursion inside Melbourne’s defensive 50. As the ball floated towards the square, Cameron Zurhaar went for the mark but was deemed to have been pushed and duly awarded the free. He didn’t miss with his 20m set shot and two goals separated the sides at half time.

Dees fightback but North consolidate their lead

It just wasn’t going to be Melbourne’s day. Five minutes into the second half and Jack Darling took a mark just inside the arc. His 50m set shot fell short but was marked by Tristan Xerri. The big Ruckman slotted from point blank range to extend North’s lead to eighteen points.

We’ve struggled for a while when it comes to making the most of our incursions inside 50, often falling at the final hurdle.

Fortunately when Daniel Turner marked the ball deep in the pocket he easily converted, from a tight angle, to bring Melbourne’s deficit back to twelve points.

Unfortunately North’s response was almost immediate when Cameron Zurhaar marked almost directly in front. The 20m set shot was a doddle for the forward and it was back to eighteen in favour of the hosts.

A minute later it was Melbourne’s turn again when Christian Petracca was held while attempting to mark the ball. His 45m shot was perfect and it back to twelve again.

The next goal was the result of a few basic mistakes on the edge of the arc, which culminated in Colby McKercher kicking his first goal in AFL. Back to eighteen.

That’s the way it stayed until three quarter time, despite some valiant efforts by the Demons.

Murder on the Kangaroo Express

Much as it pained me, and it did pain, I rewatched the fourth quarter. Sadly it was as traumatic as the first viewing but at least this time there were no surprises.

Paul Curtis started the carnage in the opening minute when he was awarded a free kick in front of goal. His 20m kick was accurate and the lead was out to twenty four points.

Then the centre bounce and the Roos were back inside 50, where Nick Larkey took a contested mark in the pocket. Thirty points ahead.

Another centre bounce and Larkey had his hat trick after snapping from 15m in front. Thirty six in front after three goals in three minutes.

At this point, I thought about tuning out but I soldiered on.

There was a short respite before Zurhaar took a contested mark 20m in front to claim his own hat trick.

Another mark inside 50 and another hat trick when Paul Curtis made sure of his 30m set shot.

The bloodshed continued when Zurhaar was able to gather up the ground ball and somehow find enough space in a sea of players to snap a right footer from 35m.

All hope had long since been abandoned but there was one ray of sunshine which managed to break through the haze. Kade Chandler took a brilliant mark just inside the arc. His set shot was perfectly executed and the margin was back under 50 points.

It was too late for a miracle win but maybe we could string a few more goals together and arrest our plummeting percentage.

Alas, that was our highlight for the term and North continued to add insult to injury with two more goals before the final siren.

First, Jack Darling marked and converted from 45m out, then Bailey Scott hammered one in from just outside 50 to complete a catastrophic afternoon for the Demons.

For now, all we can do is try and put the experience behind us and focus on redemption in Round 3. Let’s land our first win of the season against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG!

Go the Mighty Dees!!!