VIDEOS: Match highlights | Brad Scott press conference | Post-match interviews | Sam Wright seals the win | Brent Harvey running goal | Drew Petrie one-hander | Join in the Chorus | Daniel Wells quickstep | Michael Firrito saving tackle | Leigh Adams takes no prisoners
Can't view the videos? Visit the NMFC YouTube Channel
SUNDAY'S 33-point victory over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium was the night North Melbourne grew up, said coach Brad Scott after the match.
Scott, who took over as coach before the 2010 season, likened himself to a parent who's had to watch his children get bullied in the schoolyard.
In this match, however, the Kangaroos held their ground in the physical contests and kept their nerve when the heat was on.
"Now we're starting to stand on our own two feet," Scott said.
PRESS PLAY above to watch the press conference | YouTube
The match was full of niggle. The first half featured several incidents in which players ran in from around the ground to remonstrate.
St Kilda small forward Stephen Milne had to jog off with his torso bare after one melee to replace his jumper, which had been ripped off.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt was paid a free kick during the third quarter when North Melbourne's Scott McMahon and Todd Goldstein bumped him off the ball.
Riewoldt had a shot for goal from 50m out that would have brought the Saints within a goal, but he missed.
The spitefulness reached its peak in the last quarter when St Kilda midfielder Brendon Goddard allegedly struck his opponent, Sam Wright, with a round arm that knocked Wright to the ground.
Wright was forced off but returned to see out the game.
"From the box you don't know what's being said out there, but it looked like there was a bit of niggle," Scott said.
"I think our boys handled themselves really well.
"They didn't get carried away. I don't think anyone lost their temper. We practise and coach that all the time.
"You want to be able to control the situation, not react to the situation. Our guys did that really well."
Scott said he saw the incident in which Wright was felled.
"Sammy came back on and continued to play really well, which was excellent," he said.
Scott said Goddard had made comments to the North players after an incident in round 21 last season in which Roos midfielder Jack Ziebell lay a crude bump on St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt.
Ziebell was later suspended for three matches.
"It's not my job to comment on opposition players," Scott said.
Scott praised Wright for his performance on Goddard, saying his task was two-fold: to try to curb Goddard while learning from him.
He said he hopes that Wright plays a Goddard role in the future, moving between the midfield, half-back and half-forward.
VIDEOS: Match highlights | Brad Scott press conference | Post-match interviews | Sam Wright seals the win | Brent Harvey running goal | Drew Petrie one-hander | Join in the Chorus | Daniel Wells quickstep | Michael Firrito saving tackle | Leigh Adams takes no prisoners
Can't view the videos? Visit the NMFC YouTube Channel
