North Melbourne 3.5 10.8 12.13 17.16 (118) St Kilda 3.1 4.2 4.5 4.5 (29)
Goals
North Melbourne Carey 5, McKernan 3, Crocker 2, Sholl 2, Rock, Laidley, Armstrong, M Stevens, Simpson
St Kilda Smith, Bardsley, Beveridge, Daniels
North returned to form, holding St Kilda to a miserly 29 points for the entire game. The hapless Saints scored only 3 points in the second half. It was St Kilda's lowest ever score against North Melbourne.
Robert Harvey was a late withdrawal, and ex-Roo Bardsley (aka Anning - anyone know why he changed his name?) replaced him. In contrast, North was strengthened by the return of Anthony Stevens and Darren Crocker.
First Quarter
The game began under heavy rain. The conditions were extremely slippery, and it was expected that goals were going to be at a premium. Carey started at centre-half-forward. Martyn took Loewe, Scott tagged Burke, and Blakey opposed WInmar. Mark Stevens and Darren Crocker played the full-forward line. It took only 2 minutes before McKernan marked in the midfield, passed to Carey, who passed to Crocker. Crocker took a mark, falling backwards in the goal square, and opened North's account. Eleven minutes passed before another major was scored - demonstrating how difficult scoring was under the conditions. North was dominating the play,but had failed to stretch their lead. Rock goaled, but then the Saints scored two goals - one from an errant kick in the backline from a North defender, and the other from a downfield free-kick. St Kilda took the lead when Daniels goaled. Despite having had all the play, North was behind - and St Kilda was making the most of its limited forward opportunities. Simpson goaled late in the quarter to wrestle the lead back for North. A four point lead was all North could take in to the break. Pagan would have been unhappy with the scoreline.
Goal Sequence:
2 minutes: NM - Crocker
13 minutes: NM - Rock
17 minutes: StK - Smith
22 minutes: StK - Bardsley
27 minutes: StK - Daniels
28 minutes: NM - Simpson
Second Quarter
Total dominance by McKernan and Carey in the quarter left the game effectively over. Both kicked 3 goals, and North played superb football to kick 7 goals in the rain. McKernan was brilliant - marking the ball as if it were a dry ball, and Stevens had plenty of the ball. A 42 point lead at half-time left no doubt that a North victory was assured.
Goal Sequence:
7 minutes: NM - Carey
8 minutes: NM - McKernan
11 minutes: NM - Laidley
16 minutes: NM - Carey
20 minutes: NM - McKernan
22 minutes: StK - Beveridge
24 minutes: NM - McKernan
26 minutes: NM - Carey
Third Quarter
North continued to dominate the play, but wayward kicking meant only 2 goals were scored. St Kilda was held to just 3 points. The difficulty in scoring showed just how brilliant North was in the second quarter. The rain stopped just after half-time, but the ground was quite heavy, especially the cricket-pitch area.
Goal Sequence:
3 minutes: NM - Sholl
23 minutes: NM - Simpson
Fourth Quarter
The onslaught continued - St Kilda was held scoreless, and North finished the game having won every quarter. St Kilda's Stewart Loewe was goalless for the night - having only 2 shots at goal for the entire game.Wayne Carey scored more than the entire St Kilda team (5.6 to 4.5). Stan Alves, the St Kilda coach, and the match committee did not leave the coaches' box for 10 minutes after the game. When they finally left they were verbally abused by several disgruntled St Kilda fans - especially over the decision to move Shanahan away from Carey early in the game.
Goal Sequence:
10 minutes: NM - Armstrong
12 minutes: NM - M Stevens
16 minutes: NM - Carey
22 minutes: NM - Sholl
28 minutes: NM - Carey
The 24,778 fans would have been bored to death after half-time. St Kilda could not construct an effective forward thrust, and North tagged the St Kilda midfielders out of the game. Scott was great on Burke, Blakey about even with Winmar, and Martyn back to his best against Loewe. Stevens was given an on ball role, and had over 30 disposals. Best for North were McKernan - just brilliant in the second quarter, Archer and Carey. Roberts strained a hamstring, and left the ground, not to return. The extent of the injury is not yet known.
North's defence was superb - holding the opposition to just 4 goals (2 from frees and 1 from a wayward cross-goal kick). North has 2 more Friday night games - against Melbourne, then Hawthorn.
St Kilda's chances at making the eight appear to be over.
North has maintained the pattern of having won every time when scoring 100 or more points. This has occurred 10 times this year (for 10 wins). Similarly the North defence, when holding the opposition to less than 100 points (11 times for 11 wins) has won every time. Other statistical patterns are here.
Wayne Carey has kicked 50 goals this season. All the North goal kickers are listed here.