Round 3 and the jury was still well and truly out on how Brad Scott’s team would fare in 2012; a last-gasp loss at the hands of the Bombers, followed by a 129-point win against newcomers the Giants proved little. This was the Kangaroos’ biggest test yet.
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Geelong had won its last seven games against North, and the reigning premiers were riding high on emotion after a gutsy win over Hawthorn. The Cats were clear favourites.
Jack Ziebell was a welcome return from suspension, but it was Brent Harvey who brought the fans to their feet with his early dominance. He notched seven possessions in the first six minutes.
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A running goal from Liam Anthony saw North out to a 20-point lead, and a Lindsay Thomas pearler from the pocket put the icing on a fantastic quarter.
Scott would later pour praise on his players’ defensive pressure and attack on the ball, as Wells (13 possessions in first quarter) joined Harvey in working over the Cats’ midfield.
Aaron Edwards joined the party in the second quarter but Geelong’s experienced heads fought back. James Podsiadly was having an impact in attack and Tom Hawkins registered his first goal to narrow the margin.
The Kangaroos’ resilience was on show though, and when Thomas threw his body into a contest against Andrew Mackie to set up a goal for Leigh Adams, it was clear they were making a statement.
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Wells and Harvey combined for 42 possessions in the first half alone, and when Ben Cunnington won the footy brilliantly midway through the third term in a two-on-one contest, the ball was taken inside 50 and Ziebell banged one home from 45 metres. The impossible looked a reality.
North’s attacking handball game was attractive to watch, but the high intensity and work-rate of its players eventually took its toll. The more experienced Cats flew home and looked to be wearing down their opponents as Podsiadly banged through his fifth goal.
This day though, was the day the Kangaroos’ youngsters came of age. Sam Wright kept Steve Johnson quiet, Ryan Bastinac booted his fourth major late, while Kieran Harper came off the bench with a running goal to stem the tide.
Ziebell’s return was capped with a goal to remember as he marked deep in the pocket 50 metres out and kicked a brilliant winner.
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Harvey finished with 38 possessions, Wells 31, and Ziebell 27 and four goals for the Kangaroos.
Scott described the win as one of North’s best in his time at the club.
"I'm just really pleased for our players who have worked really worked hard over the last couple of years to try and play a certain style that we've been working on, that we think is going to be capable of sustaining finals-type intensity and finals-type pressure," he said in his post-match press conference.
North Melbourne 20.11.131 defeated Geelong 16.18.114
GOALS
North Melbourne: Edwards 4, Bastinac 4, Ziebell 4, Adams 2, McIntosh 2, Anthony, Thomas, Harvey, Harper
Geelong: Podsiadly 5, Hawkins 4, Motlop 2, Gillies, Horlin-Smith, Byrnes, Taylor, Guthrie
BEST
North Melbourne: Harvey, Bastinac, Wells, Ziebell, Wright Edwards, Firrito, McIntosh, Swallow, Delaney
Geelong: Podsiadly, Taylor, Selwood, Bartel, Kelly, T.Hunt
