What ended as a heartbreaking loss had started out so encouragingly on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.
The Kangaroos had skipped to a 39-point lead by half-time, making the most of Collingwood’s turnovers while defending their own extremely well.
Heading into the match, the Magpies were the best in the league at defending after turning the ball over, conceding an average of just 37.4 points per game. North was able to exceed that number in the first half alone, with 6.5.41 put on the scoreboard.
Just as importantly, North defended its own mistakes terrifically. The combination of the two was what proved the advantage at the long break.
Round 9, first half | Total turnovers | Points conceded off turnovers |
North Melbourne | 28 | 1.2.8 |
Collingwood | 38 | 6.5.41 |
In the greasy conditions, the Roos’ ball movement in transition was also a feature early on. They were able to turn rebound 50’s into inside 50’s at an extremely high rate, disabling a key element of Collingwood’s defensive game plan.
More than half of North’s rebound 50’s turned into attacking entries of its own in the first two quarters.
Round 9, first half | Rebound 50’s > inside 50’s | Scores from rebound 50’s |
North Melbourne | 52.6% | 5.1.31 |
Collingwood | 28.6% | 0.0.0 |
When the sides re-entered the MCG for the second half, the script completely flipped. The areas of the game that were working for the Kangaroos dried up, as Collingwood was able to find more avenues to goal.
There were three crucial areas where the game swung. Firstly, the Magpies capitalised on North’s turnovers at a devastating rate, kicking seven goals in the second half on the counter. Meanwhile, the Kangaroos were only able to score two of their own.
Secondly, North was unable to stop Collingwood from effectively clearing the stoppages and then scoring. It had done so in the first half, but when the floodgates opened they were unable to be closed again.
Round 9, second half | Total scores from turnovers | Total scores from clearances |
North Melbourne | 2.2.14 | 2.2.14 |
Collingwood | 7.3.45 | 6.4.40 |
Lastly, in the third quarter the Magpies kicked their first eight goals from just nine inside 50 entries. Up the other end, North still managed to enter its own 50 on 13 occasions for the quarter. However it kicked only three behinds.
In the last term North had a revival of its own, kicking four goals in a row – three in less than three minutes – to regain the lead approaching time-on.
However, it was Collingwood that had the final say, finishing the stronger with the last three goals to win by 17 points.
