The football world expected North’s clash against premiership favorite St Kilda in round 21 of 2009 to be a lop-sided affair.
Since the turn of the millennium there have been unique moments at North Melbourne which have defined the club, inspired a generation and ignited the hearts of all football fans and supporters. There have been extreme highs and devastating lows…all of which will never be forgotten.
In a new feature on kangaroos.com.au we look back at some of the most memorable moments at North Melbourne which took place between the years 2000 and 2009. Today we reflect on the Round 21 clash of 2009 between the Kangaroos and St Kilda.
The football world expected North Melbourne’s clash against premiership favorite St Kilda in round 21 of 2009 to be a lop-sided affair to say the least.
St Kilda had only lost one game and beat the Kangaroos convincingly just two months earlier and nothing was suggesting this second match would be any different.
Darren Crocker had just taken over the mantle as North Melbourne's senior coach after Dean Laidley’s pre-mature departure, and with only two matches remaining he swung the axe and several heads rolled.
In total, Crocker made six changes to the team that lost by 38 points to the Eagles the previous week and as a result, the odds for an unlikely win blew out to more than thirteen dollars at some betting agencies.
But if history has taught us anything in this competition, it would be to never count out the Kangaroos, no matter which team they play.
It was the perfect start to the match with the underdogs kicking the first five majors. Two goals went to Aaron Edwards in his first game since round 12 and the Roos held a 14 point lead at quarter time.
Many predicted the 13th placed team to be overrun as they were in round 11, but North’s young defenders held strong in the second and third quarters despite the dominating play of Justin Koschitzke and Nick Riewoldt.
As expected, the Saints hit back hard in the final term and goals to Koschitzke and McQualter had North Melbourne on the back foot.
North Melbourne supporters could have been forgiven for thinking the match was now beyond reach, but just as he had so many times during the season, vice-captain Drew Petrie kept their side in the match. His third goal and narrowed the gap to a point and an outstanding contested mark and goal put the Roos in front with only minutes remaining.
Some courageous defence from Andrew Swallow (33 possessions and three Brownlow votes) and a desperate save on the goal-line by Nathan Grima gave the Kangaroos one of their most memorable wins of the decade.
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