v's
Sunday, August 17 (MCG)
v's
North Melbourne 4.5 7.6 11.9 14.12 (96) Richmond 4.2 8.5 12.9 14.13 (97)
Goals
Nth Melb: Bell 3, Allison 3, Carey 2, Sholl 2, A Stevens, Mellington, Harvey, D Stevens
Richmond: Rogers 3, Merenda 2, Daffy, Richardson, Holland, Harrison, Knights
North Melbourne lost by one point - which effectively makes it impossible for North to earn the double chance this year. Anthony Stevens kicked a 60 metre goal to level the scores with a minute left, but Richmond forced a behind to win by a point. North moved the ball the length of the ground, where the ball remained 30 metres from goal for the agonising last moments of the game.
North lost Archer and McKernan to injury, and brought Chris Groom in for his first game in North colours. David King returned from suspension. Three minutes into the game Rock injured his knee, and left the ground. He is in doubt for next week. Longmire also appeared to roll an ankle, and was noticeably limping for the game. The loss of McKernan severely hampered the North game plan. Often North was forced to chip the ball short, as there was no one to take the big mark. Carey was next to useless for the first half. He started at centre half back, and was moved forward for the second quarter. He took just one mark in the first half. Without any tall marking options North struggled in moving the ball from the backline. McKernan's absence was obvious - the backmen had no target to kick to.
The match was a goal for goal affair, but Richmond should have been at least 3 goals up at half time. Selfish play by Richmond forwards - in particular Merenda - cost the Tigers certain goals. On no less than four occassions the Tigers had a loose teammate in front of goal, but chose to have a shot at goal and missed. But North was still in the game, despite the poor performance. After the main break North stepped up a gear. Carey went for his marks, and dragged down 5 marks for the quarter. North moved to a 7 point lead, but it was short lived.
Richmond struck back, and had a goal lead at the last change. North had the benefit of the wind for the final term, and the match was there for the taking. But North conceded early goals, and Richmond had a 13 point lead. This was brought back to 12 points when Merenda marked 30 metres from goal. His kick, at the 20 minute mark, had the chance to seal the game. But he missed, and North kicked the next two goals to level the scores. Anthony Stevens 60 metre bomb showed the benefit of long kicking with the wind.
Richmond was able to move the ball forward, and a behind was scored. North has to score a goal to win. Moving the ball the length of the field in no time, North then could not gain a free possession as Richmond bottled up play on the North half-forward line until the sirem rang. Richmond won by a point - but the margin should have been more. The Tigers were by far the better team on the day, and North realised that the double chance would go begging. Craig Sholl said after the game that the players recognised that they would be to blame if the team had to travel interstate fo rthe first week of the finals.
North is left in seventh, and are in danger of missing the finals. Brisbane and Port Adelaide are only half-a-game behind. North must win at least one more game to make the finals. In what was an extremely disappointing effort, North looked undermanned. Carey was poor except for the third quarter, and North seemed not to have a ruckman. The loss of Capuano, McKernan and the hobbling Longmire has depleted North's aerial supremacy. North will not win the premiership unless it can regain the big marking that was a hallmark of last season's team. Best players on the day were Stevens, Blakey and Martyn. The next two weeks are vital for all teams - and North must hope that it does not have an interstate final.