After another topsy-turvy encounter for North, the end result was its fourth win in five games, getting its season back on track.
It was an afternoon full of tactical changes, swings in momentum and players standing up, as Brad Scott explained in his post-match media conference.
Standing up
“I think that’s a really good point. They (Ben Cunnington and Mason Wood) were really good when it mattered and there are players that probably concede and think it’s not their day. But we still really needed them and they stood up to be counted when it really mattered.
“Nathan Hrovat was another one who really got going late in the game and provided a real spark for us.”
Having seen a 45-point lead disappear with a quarter still to play, North needed a lift all over the field. Most of the players who lifted had been quiet up until that point, finding a way to impact the result of the game.
Cunnington had 10 of his 17 disposals in the final term, as did Hrovat, while Wood kicked two huge goals – the first of which put North back in front for good.
Shaun Atley had a monster final quarter, collecting 12 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency. He had five score involvements to go with three clearances and a couple of tackles, bouncing back after a quiet first three terms.
Changing tactics
“We adjusted, but we didn’t execute it. In the end we weren’t executing what we wanted so we just threw Hansen forward and just played seven or eight forwards at different stages.
"Sometimes you don’t want to fall into the rope-a-dope, man them all up and expose your defence.
“The great thing about footy is you can throw all these different tactics and play all these different styles, but at the end of the day it comes back to who’s going to win the ball in the contest. Once we got that right then we looked better forward of the ball and behind the ball.”
Carlton threw some very different looks at North in the second half on Sunday.
It all started with a unique forward setup, when only two Blues started in the forward 50, with plenty of numbers down the other end.
Carlton’s forward 50 to start the second half
North’s forward 50 to start the second half
After re-shuffling in response to Carlton’s moves, North settled on a structure it liked – and backed it up by simply winning more of the ball.
It had 29 more disposals than the Blues in the final term, and with those was able to control the game and eventually kick away.
Pushing back
“I thought it was a great sign of character because when momentum’s coming against you and the Carlton army were right behind them in the third quarter and at three quarter time.
“For the second week in a row our guys stood up to that momentum and pushed it back the other way, which is really pleasing.”
While much was made of North’s close losses this season after giving up leads, the same can be said of the ability to steady in the face of a fierce challenge.
In three of the Roos’ four wins, they have had to withstand pressure from Gold Coast, Melbourne and Carlton before kicking away again.
Round 5 v Gold Coast: A 20-point lead is whittled down to six before North wins by 13 points
Round 9 v Melbourne: A 26-point lead is whittled down to two before North wins by 14 points
Round 10 v Carlton: A 45-point lead becomes a four-point deficit before North wins by 17 points
It speaks to the growing maturity in the team and a confidence in how the Roos want to play.
