With a 26-point lead trimmed to just two, North was staring down the face of a St Kilda onslaught in the last 10 minutes of Sunday’s game.
Up until the Saints’ run, North had been defending inside 50’s well. St Kilda’s first 42 entries only yielded seven goals. The problem was the next five resulted in four majors and some clutch time minutes awaited.
The Saints did manage to score from their next two inside 50’s as well – but they were minor scores; one from a hurried snap and another rushed through.
Once the scores were level, North was able to quell St Kilda’s run and carry and effectively transform the game into a tight contest, based around the performance at the stoppages.
The effect was clear immediately. St Kilda’s disposal efficiency was just 36 per cent in the last six minutes of play, North’s bigger bodies telling around the contest.
The final four clearances of the game all went North’s way, allowing the undefeated Roos to dominate territory.
From the clearance wins, North was able to propel forward and have the last four inside 50’s; one of them ending in a crucial behind to Todd Goldstein after his deserved free at the ruck contest.
With the ball pinned deep in the forward pocket, Mason Wood’s chase down tackle sealed the game before soaking up the time to kick a remarkably tough drop punt goal from the boundary.
Earlier in the game, it was the same contested dominance which allowed North to open up a handy lead on the scoreboard.
The first quarter saw a 13-4 clearance advantage, with Goldstein dominating the ruck battle in the early stages.
Playing against Tom Hickey, the Roo had eight hit-outs, seven disposals, two tackles and three clearances of his own.
By the final siren, Goldstein had doubled the Saints in hit-outs to advantage (10-5), further illustrating the advantage given to the midfielders by his ruck work.
Stats leaders
Disposals: 28 – Jack Ziebell
Clearances: 7 – Ben Cunnington
Tackles: 10 – Andrew Swallow
Inside 50’s: 6 – Jarrad Waite
Rebound 50’s: 5 – Michael Firrito
Goals: 2 – Ben Brown, Shaun Higgins, Mason Wood, Drew Petrie
