The media was full of praise after North Melbourne took all four points from its trip to Sydney.  

Mark Robinson - Herald Sun 

“Arguably the most complete victory since Rhyce Shaw took over as coach, notwithstanding the win over Richmond in Round 11 last year. Same-day travel and against one of the premiership fancies, this team has seemingly bought into the Shinboner spirit which Shaw has underpinned his coaching. 

“North matched GWS in contested ball and also beat the Giants on the spread in the second half. Twice North was challenged. In the third quarter the Giants appeared to have the ascendancy, and North responded with five consecutive goals. When the Giants surged again, Cameron Zurhaar, Jared Polec and Jack Ziebell kicked goals to kill the game.”

Roy Ward - The Age

“North Melbourne were brutal, disciplined and unrelenting in the contest while never backing down against a side that likes to bully its competition.

“From the opening minutes it was clear the Roos were trying to make every possession and contest count and restrict the Giants from playing the game on their own terms. 

“It worked a treat and even with a few hundred Giants fans in attendance, it didn't look or feel like a home game as the Roos brought numbers into every contest and kept a close check on the likes of Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio and others.” 

Riley Beveridge - AFL.com.au 

“He might not be the biggest, nor the fastest, but there's something that makes Cameron Zurhaar a constant menace in the North Melbourne forward line. Zurhaar's physicality is his most noticeable attribute, but his smarts, nous and craft around goal is perhaps his best and most underrated quality. He can play as the second marking target behind Ben Brown in the Kangaroos’ forward line thanks to his efforts to find space and work his way to dangerous parts of the field and he profited from that innate ability on Sunday. Always the game's most dangerous attacking outlet, the former rookie finished with 11 disposals, two marks and three goals.  

“Among the many aspects of Sunday's superb victory that would have delighted coach Rhyce Shaw, the composure of his youngsters when it mattered most would have been up there as the most pleasing. When the Giants challenged early in the last quarter, it was the kids who shouldered the bulk of the responsibility in front of goal. Curtis Taylor and Bailey Scott each converted cool set-shots from tricky positions in the forward line, Tarryn Thomas snuck through a classy finish on the run, then Zurhaar showed his bravery to win a high free kick and finish with ease from directly in front. It came as North Melbourne piled on five unanswered goals on either side of three-quarter time to set up its significant win.”

Damian Barrett - AFL.com.au

"The only thing Cam Zurhaar likes more than a goal is hurting an opponent."

"In 30 matches for North Melbourne, he's kicked 33 goals, and seriously hurt opposition players at least three times that amount. Against GWS on Sunday at Giants Stadium, he led his team to its second consecutive win, following the come-from-behind performance against St Kilda in March.

"Other North youngsters Curtis Taylor, Tarryn Thomas and Bailey Scott also played significant roles, as did the ever-reliable Shaun Higgins and Todd Goldstein."

foxports.com.au

“The Roos found the perfect method to shutting down the Giants, as their hard work in the contest and pressure went a long way to helping Rhyce Shaw’s side begin 2020 with two wins. The Giants never got away from North, with the 20-point margin not doing justice to how well the Roos performed. It was a sluggish first half as the two teams had just four goals between them, but when the game was up for the taking, it was North Melbourne who grabbed it with two hands. A huge win, on the road, against a flag contender. You’ve got to love that.” 

Max Laughton - Fox Sports

“Few gave them a chance on a road trip to face 2019 grand finalists GWS, who thumped Geelong back in Round 1. And that win by the Giants only looked better via transitive property when the Cats demolished Hawthorn on Friday night.

“And yet with the Giants’ forward-line stars of Jeremy Cameron and Toby Greene kept nearly silent, the Roos were much too good, running away with it in the second half.

“The footy world has been sleeping on the Kangaroos. Since Rhyce Shaw took over as senior coach, they’ve won nine games and lost only five - and if you include the game a week earlier where we knew Brad Scott was on the way out, that goes to 10-5.”

Glenn McFarlane

Jon Ralph

Daniel Cherny