North sits a game clear in eighth spot, and The Age’s Rohan Connolly has attempted to explain why, and found some comparisons between the clubs along the way.
“The Tigers started last year coming off a classic “what if” season. In 2012, they’d lost eight games by 19 points or less, three by under a goal. Last season, perhaps driven by that anguish, those narrow defeats became victories in the quest for a first finals appearance since 2001, one ultimately realised,” Connolly writes.
“A year on, it’s North Melbourne’s turn. The Roos last year finished on the end of even more close shaves than the Tigers the season previous, no fewer than 10 games lost by 16 points or less, including five by under a goal…”
Connolly identifies an anomaly; North is down in almost every key stat from last year.
“But the area in which they have improved most significantly - points conceded - is making an enormous difference to their fortunes. Indeed, the Kangaroos could be this year’s poster boy for the importance of defence in modern AFL football.”
The win over the Eagles was the fifth time from 10 games North has kept its opponent to eight goals or less. Last season, the club ranked only eighth for fewest points conceded.
The forward line has been less productive with the team’s ‘points scored’ ranking dropping from 3rd to 12th.
“In fact, the Roos have dropped an average 21 points a game on last season’s output, Drew Petrie having struggled, and Lindsay Thomas the only forward to average any more than a goal a game,” Connolly detailed.
“The back six, led by Scott Thompson, a handy intercept player in Lachie Hansen and the rebound of Nick Dal Santo, is dealing with a lot more inside 50s this season, but repelling them far better. North ranks first for fewest scores and goals conceded per opposition forward entry.
“That’s also a tribute to the defensive work of the midfield. And the usual suspects such as Brent Harvey, Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington have been supplemented by the continued improvement of Sam Gibson and Levi Greenwood, the latter over the past month ranked equal seventh in the AFL for disposals and 11th for contested possessions.”
Connolly suggests winning the contested footy is key for the Roos.
“When they have won, their differential ranking has been plus 14.7 and No.1. In their four losses, it’s slipped to negative 18.8 and 18th, as great a disparity as you can get.”
And he highlights the club’s up and down season as something which could be rectified from this week onwards.
“That inconsistency has been North Melbourne’s one bugbear in 2014, now having alternated between winning and losing for the last seven games.
“Coach Scott would love nothing more than to end that sequence this week. And against a side perhaps wistfully seeing its own 2013 reflection in the Kangaroos of today, you’d have to fancy its chances of doing so.”
NMFC open training – Saturday June 7 at Arden Street from 11.30am.
