North Melbourne has taken a decisive step in getting its season back on track with a come-from-behind 16-point win over an undermanned Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
With the game in the balance in the early stages of the final term, the Roos slammed on five goals – including two to Robbie Nahas – to three in kicking away to a 12.11 (83) to 9.13 (67) win.
It was North's first win at Kardinia Park since 2007 and could not have come at a better time as the finals aspirant improved to a 2-2 win-loss record.
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Despite a strong effort without key players Jimmy Bartel, Tom Lonergan, Mathew Stokes and Andrew Mackie, Geelong couldn’t stick with the Roos in a fierce last quarter.
Geelong made a shock decision to start star midfielder Steve Johnson in the substitute’s vest. The Cats star kicked two majors after coming on halfway through the third term, but it wasn’t enough.
The Cats have now lost two home matches this year and, at 1-3, face a tough task to climb their way up the ladder.
North's win did not come easily, as it gave up a 19-point quarter-time deficit.
But through sheer will and considered ball use from the back half, Brad Scott's men worked their way back into the contest.
"In my view I didn't think we over-handballed it or over-kicked it, I thought we missed targets – we can talk about our poor start but really our start was OK in the contest, and around the clearances we were pretty dominant but we kept turning it over," Scott said after the match.
"We just needed to fight it out and persist and make sure the wheel turned our way at the end and fortunately it did and fortunately we had players who forced it to turn."
With Geelong continuing to bomb the ball deep into its forward line, the Roos took full advantage and mustered numerous counter-attacks where they exposed the Cats on the rebound.
North defenders Sam Wright (31 disposals), Ben Jacobs (23) and Robbie Tarrant (23 and nine marks) were the main beneficiaries.
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The Roos were also dominant around the ball as one of Geelong's key flaws was exposed yet again, with the Cats trounced in the contested ball count (118-150).
Skipper Andrew Swallow (27 disposals), Ben Cunnington (20) and Jack Ziebell (20) got the better of their midfield battle with Joel Selwood and co.
Roos forward Jarrad Waite booted three goals and was the dominant forward on the ground, despite the best efforts of Geelong counterpart Mitch Clark, who also kicked three.
Young Cats defender Jed Bews was among Geelong's best, blanketing North dangerman Lindsay Thomas to play the finest game of his fledgling career.
North was just too strong around the ball and its flurry of goals at critical points in the final term was the key difference.
The challenges do not get any easier for North as it faces Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night, while the Cats face a pivotal game against Richmond at the MCG next Saturday.
GEELONG 4.3 4.6 6.8 9.13 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 5.4 7.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Geelong: Clark 3, Johnson 2, Hawkins, Caddy, Duncan, Guthrie
North Melbourne: Waite 3, Nahas 3, Brown 2, Petrie, Bastinac, DuMont, Goldstein
BEST
Geelong: Bews, Rivers, Guthrie, Gregson, Selwood
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Waite, Tarrant, Wright, Goldstein, Thompson, Swallow
INJURIES
Geelong:
North Melbourne:
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Steve Johnson replaced Josh Walker in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Trent Dumont replaced Kayne Turner in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Nicholls, Mollison
Official crowd: 23,452 at Simonds Stadium
