Brad Scott was measured when asked about being the only undefeated side after four rounds following North’s big win over Fremantle.
The head coach left the media to laud the Kangaroos and they’ve done just that.
The Herald Sun
“That’s Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle in the first month and that form stacks up strongly considering the performances over the weekend. They are largely going with the same squad as last year, but there is notable adjustments. Jamie Macmillan has improved again in the back half and unquestionably Daniel Wells has made the Kangas a better team. The under-siege Dockers came at them on Sunday, and headed them in the third quarter, but the Kangas were able to respond. Good signs.” – Mark Robinson
“North Melbourne has won the first four games of the year for the first time since 2005 and while they will face sterner tests in the weeks to come, for the first time in a long time they’re not trying to overcome a poor start to a season. The decision to introduce a higher-intensity pre-season has already paid dividends.” – Sam Edmund
The Age
“The Roos are now the only unbeaten side in the competition, with Gold Coast and Sydney both recording their first loss over the weekend. It's the first time North Melbourne have been on top of the ladder since 1998, when Brent Harvey had played 38 games. North, whose season will continue against the Suns on Saturday, also notched their fourth consecutive win for the first time since 2005.” – Emma Quayle
The Australian
“With a rampaging finale that culminated in a 31-point victory over Fremantle, an unbeaten North Melbourne lead the ladder for the first time this century.
“Although North have scarcely dominated their opponents, their form line shows they deserve their status.” – Courtney Walsh
The Twittersphere
Roos have now scored 100 points in all 4 games this season #AFLNorthFreo
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) April 17, 2016
Wonder if people will start taking @NMFCOfficial seriously if they win the flag? #aflroosdockers
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) April 17, 2016
North had many stars and picking the team’s best player proved no easy task.
The Herald Sun
“Jack Ziebell (26 possessions, three goals) was immense and delivered at crucial times, the running of Sam Gibson (26 possessions, three goals) broke the game open and Jarrad Waite (16 possessions, nine marks and four goals) was big in the second half.” – Sam Edmund
The Age
“Jack Ziebell was a dominant player for North Melbourne, kicking two second-quarter goals as the Dockers overcame a sluggish start to level the scores late in the term. Daniel Wells continued his return from the injuries that ruined his 2015 season, with his work-rate, foot skills and willingness to chase and lay tackles a pivotal part of North's game. Jarrad Waite finished with four goals, with Ziebell, Sam Gibson and Ben Brown scoring three each.” – Emma Quayle
The Twittersphere
... whoever lured/convinced/signed Waite @NMFCOfficial deserves job for life #aflnorthfreo
— Gilbert Gardiner (@gilbertgardiner) April 17, 2016
Hard to remember a ruckman who's been better at ground level than Goldstein #AFLNorthFreo
— Nick Bowen (@Nick_Bowen) April 17, 2016
North’s final term too much for the winless Dockers to handle.
The Australian
“Once the game broke open in the final term, Fremantle were again too easy to score against.
“Until Jarrad Waite sparked North’s surge with a goal late in the third term, this had been an arm wrestle.” – Courtney Walsh
The Herald Sun
“But when the Roos blew the game apart with the first five goals of the last quarter there was no Fremantle fightback. The dam wall had burst.” – Sam Edmund
SEN.com.au
“An array of quick goals early in the final term allowed North Melbourne to cruise home late in the game and take a comfortable win.”
ABC.net.au
“North Melbourne won most areas of the game - from clearances to contested possessions to stoppages and inside 50s - but it wasn't until the final quarter that the home side kicked six goals to two to seal victory.”