Surging Kangaroos inflict more damage on banged-up Lions

By Deputy Chief EditorJune 3, 2018

195 3 minutes read

North Melbourne 5.7 12.9 16.14 21.15 (141)
Brisbane Lions 0.4 3.8 7.11 12.15 (87)

North Melbournes charge towards a surprise finals berth continued unabated on Sunday as they defeated a banged-up Brisbane Lions by 54 points at Etihad Stadium.

The Kangaroos lost star forward Jarrad Waite to a calf injury in the warm-up, but that didnt bother them one bit as they piled on 12 goals to three in the first half to set up a comfortable 21.15 (141) to 12.15 (87) victory.

Compounding things for the Lions was the fact that they had to play the second half with just one man on the bench due to injuries to Allen Christensen (concussion), Charlie Cameron (foot) and Hugh McCluggage (calf), while Mitch Robinson was reported for engaging in rough conduct with Shaun Higgins.

North Melbourne didnt escape unscathed either with Jed Anderson appearing to injure his quad.

Rugged: Ben Jacobs contests with Cameron Rayner.

Photo: AAP

The Kangaroos, who have made a mockery of wooden spoon predictions all year, will reach the halfway mark of the season in sixth spot on the ladder.

North Melbourne easily won the disposal count 417-375 and Brisbanes poor ball use and basic skill errors, particularly in defence, were a decisive factor.

The Kangas, who were powered by no less than 14 individual goalkickers, also finished with more clearances (41-37), inside 50s (57-51) and hitouts (43-38).

Shaun Higgins and Luke McDonald were outstanding and set up the victory with blistering first halves.

Higgins finished up with 38 disposals (12 contested), six clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal while McDonald compiled 34 touches, six inside 50s and two goals.

Ben Cunnington (28 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances) was also a key to the result while Paul Ahern (29 disposals) made up for lost time in his long-awaited debut. Captain Jack Ziebell was great, too, with a team-high three goals to go with 19 touches (nine contested), six marks and five tackles.

Dayne Beams was brilliant for the Lions with 32 disposals (12 contested), six clearances and a career-high five goals and Harris Andrews did a great job to restrict Ben Brown to two goals. Dayne Zorko, Stefan Martin and Luke Hodge also could hold their heads high.

The warning signs appeared early for Brisbane as it took them three minutes to register their first disposal and it would prove to be an ominous stat as North Melbourne burst out of the blocks to kick five goals to none in the first quarter and take a commanding 33-point lead at the first change.

Influential: Brisbane's Dayne Beams.

Photo: AAP

Thanks largely to their superior work at the stoppages, and Higgins and McDonald having 14 and 11 touches in the first term respectively, the Kangaroos blitzed the Lions and held them to their fourth goalless opening quarter of the year.

In truth, North Melbourne should have been up by seven or eight goals at quarter-time, but inaccuracy cost them.

Unfortunately for the Lions, the Kangaroos found their radar in the second period, booting 7.2 to 3.4 – including a goal of the year contender from Sam Wright who, while lying on his back after being tackled by Oscar McInerney, managed to fling his right boot at the ball – to extend their lead to 55 points at half-time.

North scored almost every time they entered their forward 50 in the first half, with 21 scoring shots (12.9) from 30 entries, as the Lions defence wilted.

To Brisbanes credit, with just one rotation available to them after half-time, they stemmed the bleeding in the second half, outscoring the Roos by one point – thanks largely to four final-quarter goals to Beams.

But the damage was well and truly done in the opening two quarters as the Kangaroos early shock-and-awe operation held them in good stead for the remainder of the game.

NORTH MELBOURNE 5.7 12.9 16.14 21.15 (141)
BRISBANE LIONS 0.4 3.8 7.11 12.15 (87)
Goals: North Melbourne: J Ziebell 3 B Brown 2 B Jacobs 2 L McDonald 2 S Atley 2 S Wright 2 B Cunnington B Hartung J Simpkin M Williams M Wood R Tarrant S Higgins T Goldstein. Brisbane Lions: D Beams 5 D McStay 2 B Keays D Zorko L Taylor O McInerney Z Bailey.
Best: North Melbourne: Higgins, McDonald, Cunnington, Ahern, Ziebell, Goldstein, TarrantBrisbane Lions: D.Beams, Andrews, Zorko, Martin, Hodge
Injuries: North Melbourne: Jed Anderson (quad). Brisbane Lions: Christensen (concussion), Charlie Cameron (foot), Hugh McCluggage (calf)
Reports: Brisbane Lions: Robinson for engaging in rough conduct with Higgins in the third quarter
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Dean Margetts, Nick Brown.
Official Crowd: 22,133 at Etihad Stadium