1. Don’t mention the T word
North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley was in no mood to tolerate any suggestion his club had flirted with ‘tanking’ in round 18, echoing coach Brad Scott’s assertion during the week the claims were "laughable". Talking to ABC Grandstand pre-match, Buckley said he was "insulted" by reports that surfaced mid-week suggesting last weekend’s team selection indicated the Roos had the proverbial cue in the rack for 2017. With inspirational skipper Jack Ziebell back on deck alongside experienced backman Robbie Tarrant and giant ruckman Braydon Preuss, the Roos certainly had more physicality in their 22 this week, and were clearly up for the fight during a memorable win in Hobart.
2. A blustery business
It wasn’t the windiest afternoon the Kangaroos have experienced at Blundstone Arena, but there was no argument that the team kicking to the southern end would have a significant advantage throughout the afternoon. North couldn’t manage 10 goals in the opening term as was the case when they rolled the Crows earlier in the year, but they did put on four majors to at least make decent use of the stiff breeze gusting from the north. Disappointing for the Roos, however, were the two quick goals they leaked to Jeff Garlett midway through the quarter. The Kangaroos managed two goals of their own against the wind in the second term, but couldn’t hold the Demons effectively, particularly late in the term, as the top-four aspirants racked up a couple late in the half to lead by 13 points at the long break.
3. Tassie's favourite son on song
Having seen Coleman Medal leader Lance Franklin held to one goal against the Hawks on Friday night, Roos tall Ben Brown may have run onto his 'home' ground with a little added motivation on Saturday afternoon. Coming into the fixture four goals down on Franklin, the Tasmanian wasted no time closing the gap with two goals from contested marks in the first quarter and another over the back to open the second. His fourth – which brought him level with Franklin atop the goalkicking ladder – came midway through the third quarter. A fifth was in the offing when he marked early in the final term but the cult Kangaroo chose to set-up Shaun Higgins for his first as the Roos desperately held onto their three-quarter time lead.
4. The Demons' hoodoo continues
Having been heavily fancied to notch an 11th victory for 2017 and to continue their push for a top-four berth by beating North Melbourne in Hobart, there’s no doubt the Demons will be distraught at their inability to come home with the wind and seal the deal against the battling Kangaroos. With a solitary goal the deficit at three-quarter time, all 13,939 at Blundstone Arena must have expected the Dees to get the job done on the back of the strong breeze blowing in their favour to the southern end. But try as they might they just couldn’t capitalise on a number of opportunities and will rue a number of costly turnovers as they became increasingly desperate as the term wore on. In the long-run, the gutsy Kangaroos scrambled their way to the win and in doing so kept up an impressive winning streak that now stands at 17 consecutive victories over the Demons, dating back to round 20 2006.
5. Hogan hurting
With his jersey needing to be cut off in the rooms after he broke his collarbone in a heavy collision with Luke McDonald during the third term, key Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan’s season also looks to be in tatters following Saturday’s defeat in Hobart. Moreover, the Demons are now facing an uphill battle to claim a place in the top four and will have to fight hard for their much-anticipated return to finals footy without a key cog in their forward set-up. While he’d managed only one major before being injured against the Roos, Hogan at least provided a valuable contest every time the ball came his way and provided the Dees an outlet in the forward half they sorely missed in a frustrating final quarter.
