After an emotional week at Arden Street, the Roos took on the Giants at Etihad.
It was a close first half but Greater Western Sydney ran away with the match and ended up winning by 37-points.
The Giants had never beaten North, and after the home side’s fast start, it looked like a long way off.
The Age
“North may not have had as much on the line but started with more conviction than the Giants, who were lacking their usual fluency. Though they had the edge in clearances, their ball movement was stilted.” – Andrew Wu
Herald Sun
“And when Ben Brown kicked three first quarter goals, the deer was looking a little stunned in the headlights.” – Matt Windley
The Age
“All four North "retirees" were getting a big hand any time they went near it, but Brent Harvey a little bit more so. "Boomer" looked as dangerous as ever, and his chip pass to a leading Ben Brown gave the big Tasmanian his second goal.” – Rohan Connolly
3AW (Twitter)
Browny: "Wouldn't you know it, Boomer Harvey leads North for disposals, and he has two goals." #AFLNorthGiants
But the Giants soon awoke, and North struggled to stay in the game.
The Age
“Even when North led the Giants, it was arguably only wastefulness from the precocious young finals newcomer that made that the case. And once that was corrected, the result seemed pretty inevitable.” – Rohan Connolly
Herald Sun
“Brown battled hard but couldn’t add to his early goals, Majak Daw had his moments, Brent Harvey (26 disposals) was perhaps his side’s best despite the week’s controversial revelation that he won’t be getting another contract, while Sam Gibson (29 touches) and Jack Ziebell (24) also battled manfully.” – Matt Windley
The Age
“For North, who pushed Sydney to the brink last week, this was a step backwards, though they at least were able to get game time into Shaun Higgins and Luke McDonald.
“Other than Ben Brown, who kicked three goals, and Brent Harvey, who had 26 possessions to go with two goals, they did not have any players capable of breaking the game open.” – Andrew Wu
With nothing to play for, the Roos seemed flat according to some.
The Twittersphere
Gilbert Gardiner- @gilbertgardiner
7 days ago North stretched Swans to brink. Tonight belted. What changed? As flat as I've seen for quite some time #AFLNorthGiants
Now the focus turns to North’s Elimination Final against Adelaide in a fortnight.
A big positive for North is the likely return of Jarrad Waite from a hip injury and Scott Thompson from an adductor strain.
But just who misses out remains to be seen.
Herald Sun
“Waite’s likely inclusion poses another selection headache for the Roos with Petrie or Majak Daw to make way for the key forward.
“Petrie failed to register a possession in the first half against the Giants, finishing with just four touches in what is likely to be his last game in Melbourne — barring any finals heroics.
"Daw, also without a contract for next season, would be stiff to miss having shown signs of rapid improvement in the second half of the season. Daw proved a handful for the Giants, taking seven marks (three contested).” – Gilbert Gardiner
