NORTH Melbourne will live to fight another day.
The do-or-die Kangaroos have produced a stirring 10-point win over the Geelong Cats to keep their slim finals hopes alive in the AFL at Etihad Stadium tonight.
The Roos have a tough run home with Adelaide interstate, Essendon and Hawthorn at the Docklands and Collingwood at the MCG to round out the season, but where there’s life, there’s hope.
After five losses by less than a kick, North Melbourne fans could finally breathe a sigh of relief after the Cats kept coming at them in the last quarter.
The Kangaroos defence was resolute in the dying stages, squeezing the life out of the Cats forward line by getting back in numbers and returning the ball with interest. Their leg speed and link up out of the back half exposed the Cats at times.
Aaron Mullett was superb with his rebound out of defence, using the ball 32 times for an 81% disposal efficiency.
Veteran Brent Harvey turned back the clock, racking up 37 disposals in his best game of the season. He showed there was life in the old legs, playing 90% of game time.
Everything Daniel Wells touched turned to gold, booting four goals and winning the hard ball with 10 contested possessions, while Jack Ziebell’s kamikaze attack on the ball was a feature, which could see the big-bodied onballer go close to the three Brownlow votes.
The Kangaroos percentage of 122.2 shows how close they have come on countless occasions this season, but winning a tight one against a Cats side featuring the big names of their premiership era will be a massive confidence boost heading into the last month of the season.
The Roos moved up to 10th, still two games outside the top eight, but at least with something to play for in the remaining rounds.
Geelong’s top four berth is under threat after three losses in their past seven games, all to teams outside the eight.
The Cats played well in patches, winning the inside 50 count 59-46, but their inability to turn those entries into scores proved costly.
Steven Motlop was the most dangerous Cats forward with three goals, while Mitch Duncan was rewarded for his gut running with three majors from the midfield. Mathew Stokes applied plenty of forward pressure.
Steve Johnson, Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood were prolific in the midfield, while Josh Caddy’s nifty touches across half forward showed why the Cats were so desperate to obtain his signature over the summer.
The Cats have a cosy run home with three games at Simonds Stadium, so if they are true to form, they should keep hold of their double chance.
Want to know how North Melbourne’s VFL affiliate, the Werribee Tigers, are travelling, click here.
