Missing during a form slump, on Friday night North’s pressure returned with a vengeance.
“We called it ‘the pressure battle’ and I thought the boys executed really well from the start, and that was a big factor in the game,” Jack Ziebell told Fox Footy post-match.
“It was a massive focus going into the game to make sure that we got off to a good start and gave ourselves every opportunity.”
And it was the start which set up the match. Six of the first seven goals gave the Kangaroos a 34-point first quarter lead; one which would never shrink below 15 for the rest of the game.
Drew Petrie’s forward half pressure typified North’s efforts. He finished with seven tackles, the most by any Roo.
“I can honestly say that I haven’t seen a player put that much pressure on in our forward line for a long, long time,” Brent Harvey said of Petrie on Monday.
“For a big guy, that was special to sit back and watch.”
The Roos finished with 15 tackles in their forward 50, tripling the number applied against Port Adelaide in Round 17.
Unsurprisingly, it meant they also forced 36 turnovers in their forward half – the third highest number by the side since the statistic started being tracked.
When a side is able to force turnovers in its forward half, it usually leads to wide open spaces. Just as the opposition is streaming forward, it then has to double back, leaving holes in the defensive setup.
North was able to take full advantage of that at Etihad Stadium. From the 36 turnovers, it scored a whopping 74 points.
At the other end of the ground, Robbie Tarrant continued his excellent season by holding another opponent goalless.
Tarrant kept Travis Cloke to just eight disposals and no score, six days after restricting Charlie Dixon to five disposals and no score.
Not only has the 27-year-old been able to completely shut his opponent out of the game, but he’s also provided plenty of rebound for the Roos.
Against the Magpies, Tarrant had six rebound 50’s – a team-high – among his 19 disposals and nine marks.
Next up for the defender is one of his biggest tests of the year. Last time North played St Kilda, Nick Riewoldt was arguably the best player on the ground, collecting 24 disposals, 16 marks and kicking three goals.
If Tarrant is able to shut the Saints superstar out of the game, it will go a long way to earning the four points for the Kangaroos.
Stats leaders
Disposals: 33 – Sam Gibson
Marks: 9 – Robbie Tarrant
Goals: 5 – Lindsay Thomas
Tackles: 7 – Drew Petrie
Rebound 50’s: 6 – Robbie Tarrant
Inside 50’s: 8 – Brent Harvey
Clearances: 6 – Daniel Wells, Ben Cunnington
Goal assists: 3 – Ryan Clarke
