A fast-finishing North Melbourne has fallen to Carlton by seven points in Saturday's NAB Challenge match at Eureka Stadium.
Trailing by as many as 37-points midway through the third quarter, the Kangaroos got to within a point late in the final quarter, before a late Cameron Wood goal sealed the deal for the Blues.
Missing Andrew Swallow, Leigh Adams, Nathan Grima and Robbie Tarrant, North dominated possession (376 to 301) and registered more inside 50's, but it was Carlton who made the better of its opportunities.
Andrejs Everitt booted three goals for the winners, while Drew Petrie was the dominant forward on the ground with four majors at the opposite end.
[Related: View the best photos from the match]
Star recruit Nick Dal Santo was among the major ball-winners for North, with fellow midfielders Ryan Bastinac, Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells showing plenty of encouraging signs.
Bastinac had 31 possessions and kicked an important last quarter goal, while Ziebell's tackling pressure and work in close a highlight.
Wells was terrific in the first quarter with 9 disposals, but faded out of the game and was substituted at the final change.
Defender Joel Tippett was also a strong performer, keeping Jarrad Waite goalless and to just 6 disposals.
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FROM AFL.COM.AU
WHAT WE LEARNED
North Melbourne: The Kangas, who have been widely tipped to surge up the ladder this season, are super-fit. They trailed by as many as 37 points during the early stages of the third quarter, but fought back to almost snatch an unlikely win.
Carlton: The loss of Eddie Betts hasn't dampened the Blues' scoring power. Even with Jarrad Waite struggling to get a kick, Mick Malthouse's men piled on nine goals in a great opening half, with recruit Andrejs Everitt and star youngster Troy Menzel bagging five between them. Tom Bell also showed plenty of verve in attack and in the middle.
NEW FACES
North Melbourne: Former St Kilda star Nick Dal Santo turned plenty of heads by taking to the field sporting fluorescent orange boots. He wasn't an outstanding contributor, but he was very effective, finishing with 27 possessions and just about always using the ball wisely. Playing as a key defender, Joel Tippett also made an impressive debut for North, holding Jarrad Waite goalless. Former Richmond small forward Robin Nahas flashed into the game a few times, but it's hard to see him playing many games unless Lindsay Thomas gets injured.
Carlton: Andrejs Everitt was the standout new-boy for the Blues, although draftee Patrick Cripps and former Collingwood ruckman Cameron Wood also caught the eye a few times. Cripps, a solidly built midfielder, finished with 12 possessions and three clearances. Working in tandem with Robert Warnock, Wood didn't win many possessions around the ground but he tallied 19 hit-outs. And he delighted his new fans by slotting the last goal of the game, which ensured Carlton was able to put a stop to North's frenetic fightback.
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.2.3 0.9.3 0.9.9 0.14.9 (93)
CARLTON 0.3.3 0.5.6 1.12.5 1.14.7 (100)
SUPERGOALS
North Melbourne: Nil
Carlton: Tuohy
GOALS
North Melbourne: Petrie 4, Black 2, Thomas 2, Harvey 2, Currie, Wells, Ziebell, Bastinac
Carlton: Everitt 3, Menzel 2, Ellard 2, Bell 2, Cachia, Robinson McLean, Wood, Casboult
BEST
North Melbourne: Bastinac, Ziebell, Petrie, Dal Santo, Wells, McDonald, Tippett
Carlton: McLean, Curnow, Everitt, Robinson, Buckley, Bell, Cachia
Umpires: Armstrong, Findlay, Gleason, O'Gorman
Official crowd: approx. 7,800 at Eureka Stadium, Ballarat
