Leading into Friday night’s semi-final, NMFC.com.au documented how Geelong was able to score effectively and freely from the Kangaroos’ turnovers in Round 10 and 19 of the home and away season.
Over the two games, Geelong kicked almost 11 goals more than North from turnovers, while averaging 84 points a game from the statistic.
| 2014 H&A Season | Total turnovers forced | Points from turnovers | Points from 100 |
| Geelong | 133 | 168 | 126.3 |
| North Melbourne | 122 | 104 | 85.2 |
However the wider expanses of the MCG may have played its part in changing North’s fortunes against the Cats.
Not only were the Kangaroos able to defend the turnover much better, it was also able to score from Geelong’s missteps at a greatly increased rate.
In what ended up being a tight finish, the three-goal difference from turnovers proved crucial.
| Semi Final | Total turnovers forced | Points from turnovers | Points per 100 |
| Geelong | 58 | 55 | 94.8 |
| North Melbourne | 62 | 74 | 119.4 |
It was a case of North’s season-long superiority in turnovers beating out an individual opponent. Heading into the game, the Kangaroos ranked fifth in the scores from turnovers differential.
Meanwhile in the middle, the ruck battle at stoppages was intriguing. Todd Goldstein clearly had the advantage over the Mark Blicavs-Josh Walker combination and North registered a 55-34 hit-out edge on the evening.
In most cases, teams opt to use a ‘third man up’ at stoppages to neutralise a ruckman’s advantage. However, Geelong elected not to do this and instead focused on trying to read Goldstein’s hit-outs.
While Goldstein had a huge 16 hit-outs to advantage, the Cats were able to ‘shark’ 10 themselves. Effectively half of the big man’s taps ended going directly to a player.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing statistics of the evening was where each side’s ‘rebound 50’s’ ended up.
Over the course of 2014, a rebound 50 has finished in the opposing 50 approximately a quarter of the time. Anything over this amount is an excellent effort by a team.
Both North Melbourne and Geelong entered the semi-final turning a rebound 50 into a forward entry 27.2 per cent of the time.
Geelong stayed at its season rate, but North well exceeded it. It was proof that its ball movement was as good as any stage this season.
| Semi Final | Rebound 50's | Rebound 50 into Inside 50 % |
| Geelong | 38 | 29% |
| North Melbourne | 38 | 34.2% |
Open training – Thursday at Arden Street, 11.30am-12.30pm approx. Autographs, sausage sizzle and merchandise available.
