North Melbourne have held on for an incredible first win of the 2024 season, overcoming a red-hot West Coast in the last quarter 11.8 (74) to 8.16 (64).
After 10 goals in the first three quarters, the two sides combined for a wild nine goals in the final term,
Including a six-goal run from the Eagles that saw them claw back from a 33-point lead to hit the front late.
The match serves as the first win for George Wardlaw, Jackson Archer, Toby Pink and Wil Dawson, after the Kangaroos sustained an 11-game losing streak before today’s win.
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The 3-2-1... (With Cat Healey)
3 -YEO COPS HORROR CALL THAT LEAVES CROWD ‘FILTHY’
West Coast were beaten by a hungry North Melbourne outfit – but not before a controversial umpiring call with less than three minutes to go that gifted the visitors the lead – and then didn’t relent it.
Elliot Yeo attacked the footy and collided with George Wardlaw with both players going to ground.
But it was there Yeo was pinged for holding the ball in a decision that left Eagles coach Adam Simpson stunned with his hands on his head.
“Is it a free kick?” commentator Will Schofield asked.
“Not in my book,” Gerard Healy replied.
“Something would appear wrong to me if that is a free kick.
“(Yeo) busted his backside to get that from the opposition player – and it’s fallen that way.
“He’s basically got up on his knees and he’s been pinged with no prior opportunity.
“That is going to have a fair bit of airplay over the next 48 hours.”
The crowd was left “filthy” by the call – but speaking post-match Jy Simpkin was adamant the free kick was there.
“Do you think it was holding the ball,” Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan asked.
“Yeah absolutely,” he replied.
2 - EAGLES ‘PANTS PULLED DOWN’ AS LDU RUNS RIOT
West Coast coach Adam Simpson conceded he knew clearances “would be a bit of a battle” without midfield duo Tim Kelly (injury) and 11-gamer Harley Reid (suspension).
But what unfolded was a complete “disaster” for the Eagles at home.
They failed to register a single centre clearance in the opening half and had their “pants pulled down”, according to AFL great Gerard Healy, by a North Melbourne outfit led admirably by midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke.
Davies-Uniacke put West Coast to the sword after the bizarre call to drop the Dom Sheed tag after the opening quarter.
Healy said Davies-Uniacke was the one “separating the game” as he put on a “dance show”.
“He’s clearly the best player on the ground right now – West Coast need to put a clamp on him,” Fox Footy commentator Will Schofield said.
“Not sure why it was dropped in the first place.
“He’s setting them apart.
“He is just walking around doing what he likes – there’s no hard tag on him. The best player on the ground.
“It’s been a disaster for West Coast.”
Schofield praised the Roos midfield as the “best we’ve seen” from the club this season.
“It’s at the contest – they are in there first. They are beating the West Coast Eagles in there. Sometimes it just comes down to how much you want it. North they have come to hunt today.”
Despite West Coast staging a massive fightback in the final term, it was North Melbourne who held on for their first win of the year.
Coach Alastair Clarkson also credited a late break in play where Eagle Liam Duggan was taken from the field after a nasty head knock to allow his side to regroup before kicking the last two goals of the match.
1 - WEST COAST HAIL ‘WALL OF BARRASS’
The Eagles had no right to be in the contest at half time, after failing to register a single centre clearance and being smashed through the middle.
But thanks to defensive duo Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass – the Eagles still had hope.
McGovern was West Coast’s leading possession getter at the main break – after dominating as an intercept machine.
Fox Footy commentator Gerard Healy said it was clear McGovern needed to be “lassoed” if North wanted to come away with the four points.
“This is killing them (North) – the intercept marks across the half back line. The whole world knows that’s (West Coast’s) great strength – they’ve got to get better than that,” he said as the visitors continued to blaze away and cough up possession.
“They have got to bypass the wall of Barrass who is one significant component.”
Healy said it was the work of McGovern and Barrass that was “keeping them in the match”.
“It’s the one reason West Coast are in touching distance.”
McGovern’s importance was highlighted in the second term when Cam Zurhaar was able to get out the back and goal – while the star Eagle was stuck on the bench.
“The bottom line is there’s no McGovern there … everybody’s wondering where is he?” Healy said.
“Just a little bit of chaos.”
WEST COAST v NORTH MELBOURNE - AS IT HAPPENED
There was no late change to either side with Ryan Maric (West Coast) and Eddie Ford (North Melbourne) starting as subs.
Jack Darling had the hot hands early with two marks inside 50 in the opening five minutes - but the veteran Eagle couldn’t convert either opportunity.
It was end to end footy despite the Roos dominating clearances - with a stunning 10-0 count in favour of the visitors.
The match became an arm wrestle in the opening term as neither side could break the goal dead lock.
With just 30 seconds remaining in the term, it took a push in the back free kick for Darling for the first goal of the contest.
At the first change, it was West Coast leading 10-1.
The Kangaroos began the second quarter crying out for a goal, with behinds to Luke Davies-Uniacke and Cameron Zurhaar delaying that prospect, before Jaidyn Stephenson finally succeeded in the eighth minute of the second quarter with the first for the visitors.
It was Jamie Cripps who dealt the Eagles’ reply on the scoreboard, before a Nick Larkey goal over his head brought them back within striking distance.
And with five minutes to go before half time, Zurhaar made amends for his earlier miss with a mark close to home that he converted truly from - putting the Kangaroos in front by four points!
Larkey slotted his second for the evening right before the half-time siren, giving his side an eight-point lead at the half time break.
North ruck Tristan Xerri had nine disposals, 17 hitouts and five clearances at the halfway mark, along with six tackles to emphasise his consistent pressure on the Eagles ball carriers.
Opposition ruck Matt Flynn has been incredibly well held by Xerri, with zero disposals at the half - the only player not injured or sub yet to dispose of the ball.
Jeremy McGovern has 15 disposals to be one of the hosts best, with seven intercept possessions in amongst then.
Incredibly, the Eagles are yet to register a centre clearance after two whole quarters in a serious worry for Adam Simpson and his coaches.
Larkey piled on his third for the match and first for the half after seven minutes without a goal for either side, pushing North’s lead out to a game-high 13 points.
And in the blink of an eye, the key forward kicked his fourth and then fifth - giving his side one hand on their first win for the season given the low-scoring nature of the contest.
Commentator Gerard Healy said West Coast were “getting their pants pulled down” by a North outfit who were hungrier at the contest as the margin hit 27 points.
At the final change, it was North in control leading 54-27.
Jy Simpkin looked to have almost locked in his side’s first win of the year when he nailed a big goal just two minutes into the final term.
But North “lost the handle” on the match as West Coast finally found some fight - and finally hit the scoreboard.
The Eagles started to close through Alex Witherden and then brought themselves within nine points with 10 minutes still to play.
Waterman kicked his third goal for the day to incredibly put the Eagles in front by three points - completing a run of six straight goals to flip the match on its head.
All three of Waterman’s goal came in the last quarter, as Flynn, Yeo and Witherden also hit the scoreboard with success.
Cam Zurhaar had a chance to swing back the lead North’s way with a tough set shot from the right forward pocket, however it faded ever so slightly to the right of the goal face.
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