North Melbourne are back in the top eight after beating Collingwood at Telstra Dome on Friday night. The Kangaroos fought back hard in the second half to record an 18 point win.
FORM
North Melbourne: LLWLW
Collingwood: WLLWW
SUMMARY
Both sides have similar form going into this game and that form has been scratchy under analysis. Both North Melbourne and Collingwood have shown an ability to lift for the big games and tough challenges, but also to lose or struggle against the lesser lights.
North Melbourne has done this by beating Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood, and going within 15 points of Geelong. However they almost dropped their game against Port Adelaide last round and have lost to Fremantle, Essendon and St Kilda.
Similarly, Collingwood has beaten Geelong, Sydney, Adelaide and gone close to the Western Bulldogs, but has lost twice to Carlton.
All that points to this clash being a genuine blockbuster and if their previous meeting in round five is anything to go by, it should be a tight contest that could go either way. In that game North Melbourne snuck away with the win by a narrow seven points.
KEY MATCH-UP
Daniel Pratt v Rhyce Shaw
Last time these two sides met Rhyce Shaw played on the half forward flank and was able to set up a lot of Collingwood’s forward thrusts, taking the ball inside 50 five times. Pratt will be relieved to be playing this week after facing the AFL Tribunal, and could match up on the dangerous Pie again if Collingwood chooses to play him forward.
WILDCARDS
North Melbourne – Shannon Grant
Grant will come back into the side wanting to make amends for the misdemeanour that saw him miss last week’s match, and he couldn’t have picked a better return match. Grant always plays well against the Pies and kicked three goals when they met earlier this year.
Collingwood – Paul Medhurst
The former Fremantle player has been outstanding for Collingwood this year and is only getting better. Last week he kicked 5.5, while he should have converted better, it was an amazing display by a smaller forward.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Shannon Grant be able to put the controversy of last week behind him and perform on Friday night?
Collingwood currently sits two points outside the top four, can they win on Friday and break into the top four? And if so, can they stay there?
MY TIPS
Kangaroos by 24
The first bounce, And bang boomer Harvey with the first effective kick of the game, and a terrific point from Thomas. North Melbourne has gone Inside 50 a few times but the pies defense has been brilliant, and held them off. Collingwood then found so much space through there defense, to kick a really easy goal. The ball was going from one end to another in a really repetitive play.
Then Rhyce Shaw with a brilliant kick to Wood but resulted in a point. Both teams have had a lot of ineffective kicks, but a free kick and a great way to start off Shannon Grants game with his 350th goal and the first for the roos. Boomer Harvey had a brilliant run, running from half back to give a brilliant kick to Grant, but unfortunately missing. A beautiful run from Collingwood from the roos defense resulted in a great snap and a goal. Collingwood then had the next center clearance but a behind from Wellingham.
Alan Didak kicked the last goal on the siren as Collingwood lead North 21 to 10.Currently Josh Gibson Is doing really well on Medhurst as he only has 2 possessions at quarter time.
Kangaroos started the second quarter off as any coach would love there team to, As a brilliant kick to Thomas kick which resulted in a Boundary throwing But then again Thomas made something out of nothing and kicked a goal. Collingwood started off the same way as Kangaroos did but Dale tried to do too much and missed, a stupid mistake which caused the amazing run from Brent Boomer Harvey, then unselfishly gave his teammate a goal. The ball is currently moving end to end, but both teams can’t convert. Both sides defensive pressure have been brilliant. But then some outstanding play by Collingwood with Shane O’bree clearing 40 meters from his man, and kicking a goal. But amazingly the Roos didn’t learn from their mistakes, and Collingwood have gotten another goal with finding 40 meters from their opponents. Then finally North Melbourne gets the clearance and Daniel Wells on an angle, non selfishly gives it to Goldspink for a goal.
Kangaroos are trying to get the ball through the wing, and do it well with a terrific kick to Petrie and resulting in a goal. Collingwood have been attacking inside 50 for the last 6 minutes but Kangaroos have held up brilliantly. And at half time Collingwood lead 7.7 49 to 5.6 36. Sides have had there dominating play, Boomer Harvey is playing a brilliant game, if the roos get a few quick goals in the third quarter, and they’re in for a good chance.
Kangaroos looked to be attacking in the second half but Collingwood held up with a few good tackles. But then Corey Jones took a good mark, and a good goal to give the roos a bit of momentum. The teams were playing aggressive footy for 5 minutes then a run from Wells to a kick to Firrito and a goal, And now the roos only trail by a point.
Kangaroos just had their third clearance, and their tall forwards are starting to step up with a goal to Petrie to put them in front. Daniel Wells with a terrific kick to Grant, then to Thomas and the roos have 3 in a row, kangaroos started the same again with a kick to Corey Jones, but he couldn’t convert.
Collingwood then start off slowly with from the defense then kick it inside 50 and Maxwell has kicked a nomination for goal of the year, a terrific kick to give the pies a sniff. Collingwood then started off a bit like Kangaroos with Rhyce Shaw kicking it inside 50, followed by a strong mark from Medhurst resulting in a goal to make scores level.
Both teams are making sure their tackles count and both teams are having trouble breaking away. Then Collingwood finally break away and Dane Swan to kick a goal to bring Collingwood back in front, the quarter is starting like the others with North dominating the start, Then Collingwood answering back.
A beautiful run from Campbell after he had 4 bounces then a great goal from Kangaroos to keep scores level Kangaroos are now looking dangerous with a
Great center clearance and a great goal from Scott Mc’Marn to put the Roos in front. At 3 quarter time, North Melbourne lead 80 to 70, Kangaroos finished strong in the third quarter, but I wouldn’t take the pies out of this, anything can happen.
Collingwood started off good and caused Kangaroos to rush a behind, but it wasn’t over there Anthony got the ball from the throwing and kicked a great goal from the boundary to put the pies within 5 points. Dane Swan did it all by him self after taking the ball from the Center. But unable to get the 6 points, only the single.
The ball was going from end to end, but for the first time this quarter Kangaroos broke away and David Hale has kicked a goal and for the first time in his career, he’s kicked 15 goals for the season. North Melbourne has come back and Prat has kicked a goal. Kangaroos yet again get the center clearance and boomer has delivered a great ball to Jones and North Melbourne is leading by 22 points which is the biggest margin of the game.
It seems Collingwood have given up with Kangaroos getting easy possessions, my tip would be it’s all over now. Collingwood have worked the ball through the Roos’s defense and kicked a goal, it looks like they’re coming back, and it’ll be interesting to see how the roos respond with this. Wellingham had a terrific run non selfishly giving it to grant for a goal which pretty much was the icing on the cake. Collingwood just got the center clearance and Paul Medurst kicking a goal. The roos have responsed terreffic with this after kicking a goal, and the game is over .
North Melbourne 1.4 5.6 12.8 – 17.12 (114)
Collingwood 3.3 7.7 10.10 – 14.12 (96)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Jones 3, Petrie, Goldstein, Grant 2, Campbell, Firrito, Thomas, Ross, Harvey, Pratt, Hale, McMahon
Collingwood: Anthony 4, Wellingham, Medhurst 2, Pendlebury, Swan, Didak, O’Bree, Lockyer, Maxwell
BEST
North Melbourne: Petrie, Harvey, Firrito, Gibson, Rawlings, Wells Grant (Meh he sneaked in)
Collingwood: Didak, Anthony, Pendlebury, Burns, Maxwell
INJURIES
Nil
REPORTS
Nil
Umpires: McBurney, James, Jeffery
Official Crowd: 46,610 at Telstra Dome
