The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs.
1. Record-breaking Roos cruise
North Melbourne's doubters probably won't be silenced yet, but that won't worry the Kangaroos in the slightest after they extended their perfect start to 2016 and set a new club record. Never before in their 92-year history had the Kangas won nine on the bounce to start a season and it's also the first time they've strung together nine in a row since their last premiership campaign in 1999. Even with a tough stretch to come, a fair bit will have to go wrong for North to lose its stranglehold on a top-four spot from here.
2. Goldstein feasts on Gorringe
Big Todd Goldstein must've been licking his lips once Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer was ruled out through injury and the North Melbourne star had a night out against inexperienced Daniel Gorringe on his Blues debut. Goldstein had nine hit-outs to advantage in the first term alone, giving the Roos an armchair ride as they outscored Carlton 26-8 from stoppages. North dominated centre clearances (17-6) and clearances (42-28) with Goldstein the clear best-on-ground, ending up with three goals, 45 hit-outs and 19 disposals.
3. Nice goal, Daniel-san
To his credit, Gorringe never gave up around the ground and provided a rare highlight for the Blues with a Karate Kid impersonation in the third quarter. With the ball bouncing high off hands to the goalline, Gorringe flung out right boot and connected with a flying karate kick just before the ball tumbled over the line. A score review confirmed the six-pointer, no doubt the most acrobatic of the former Gold Coast big man's eight majors in his career.
4. Who kicks the Blues' goals?
Levi Casboult didn't exactly set the world on fire with six goals in eight games before suffering a shin injury, but Carlton's forward structure looked out of whack without the contested marking king to aim for. It revived questions from the start of the year when everyone wondered where the Blues' goals would come from. Brendon Bolton's men averaged 84 points in their four-week winning streak, but only notched 46 on Saturday night and will have to go back to the drawing board.
5. Waite cameos salt the wounds
There's no doubt Jarrad Waite would've marked round nine down in his fixture. It didn't start so well for the former Blue, who was obviously targeted by his old mates, and Waite failed to trouble the stats men in the opening term. But the spearhead didn't waste his first chance to send a bitter reminder to Carlton fans what they're missing when he threaded the needle from deep in the pocket in the second stanza. Waite celebrated accordingly and, despite a fairly quiet night, added another after a big grab in the final term to put the finishing touch on an enjoyable win over his old side.
