It was a spiteful encounter at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night and the on-field drama has dominated headlines.
Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis were involved in clashes with Andrew Swallow and Todd Goldstein respectively, bringing back memories of the corresponding match in 2014.
Herald Sun
“The first-quarter scuffles inflamed the growing rivalry between the top-four aspirants, which flared last year when Hawthorn full-back Brian Lake copped a four-week suspension for placing Kangaroos goalkicker Drew Petrie in a chokehold.” – Sam Landsberger
It was the North captain who was involved in the thick of the action until he was substituted late in the third quarter. Swallow amassed six clearances and six tackles.
AFL.com.au
“Andrew Swallow's courage has never been in doubt, but the North Melbourne captain only enhanced his reputation as a tough nut on Saturday night. Swallow copped it from all comers. In the first term, he received a free kick when he was punched in the stomach by Taylor Duryea at a stoppage and booted his side's second goal.
“Soon after he wore Hodge's elbow to his head and needed attention, then in the third quarter he was the meat in a Sam Mitchell and Ben Stratton sandwich.” – Travis King
When the game briefly calmed down in the second quarter, it was North’s chance to reel in a 21-point quarter time deficit.
However it wasn’t to be as the delivery going forward let the side down.
The Age
“North Melbourne, dominated the clinches, the tackles, the contested ball in the second term. But it was a lot of work for not much reward, North continually breaking down across half-forward, where they bombed the ball into the safe hands of the Hawks' spare defender, 13 inside 50s for the quarter returning just the one goal.” – Rohan Connolly
After falling to the reigning premiers, the Kangaroos’ record sits at 2-3 after five rounds with Richmond next up on Saturday at Blundstone Arena.
In the meantime the Match Review Panel is scheduled to release its findings from Round 5 on Monday afternoon.
The Age
“If either (Hodge or Lewis) incident is graded as intentional, then anything rated more than medium impact will force a referral to the tribunal, as the panel no longer has the power to impose penalties for such offences.
“If either is deemed careless, however, a grading of high impact would still allow the incident to avoid the tribunal and result in a base penalty of two matches with a guilty plea. The same penalty would apply for a classification of intentional, medium impact and high contact.” – Jesse Hogan
