The Kangaroos were on the verge of a Grand Final appearance but a narrow loss to Geelong at Simonds Stadium saw them fall just short. The effects of two consecutive games in extreme heat proved too much in the closing stages against an experienced outfit away from home.
As the countdown to Round 1 continues, NMFC.com.au recaps the club's pre-season matches.
NAB Cup Round 1
February 21 at Etihad Stadium
Match 1 v Melbourne
North Melbourne 1.2.2, 1.4.5 (38)
Melbourne 0.2.2, 0.5.6 (36)
SUPERGOALS
North Melbourne: Jacobs
Melbourne: Nil
GOALS
North Melbourne: Hansen, Thomas, Tarrant, Petrie
Melbourne: Howe 2, Hogan, Watts, Kent
BEST
North Melbourne: Swallow, Wright, Petrie, Daw, Jacobs
Melbourne: Howe, Jones, Hogan, Dunn, Byrnes
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| Brent Harvey on the breakaway against the Demons |
Match review - North notches first win
‘Majak Daw will have everyone talking after demonstrating his athletic prowess several times against Melbourne in their (the Kangaroos’) NAB Cup opener on Friday night.
He sparked the game early and created the supergoal that meant North Melbourne ran out two-point winners, 38-36.’
Highlights
Match highlights | YouTube
Majak Daw's great mark | YouTube
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Match 2 v Richmond
North Melbourne 0.5.2, 0.7.6 (48)
Richmond 0.4.3, 0.6.8 (44)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Black 2, Harvey 2, Ziebell, Thomas, Daw
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, S Edwards 2, Ellis, Jackson
BEST
North Melbourne: Harvey, Swallow, Ziebell, Currie, Cunnington
Richmond: Ellis, Vlastuin, Newman, Knights, Arnot
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| Andrew Swallow lays a tackle |
Match review - Two from two
'North Melbourne ruckman Majak Daw has strengthened his chances of a round one debut after a second explosive performance in the Roos' NAB Cup win over Richmond on Friday night.
Young Roo Aaron Black kicked the sealer for the Roos with 40 seconds remaining after the Tigers led for much of the night.'
Highlights
Match highlights | YouTube
Majak Daw don't argue and goal | YouTube
Wells sets up Black's winner | YouTube
Brad Scott's media conference | YouTube
What they said:
Rohan Connolly (The Age): “Young North Melbourne defender Shaun Atley appeared for the Roos in both contests... particularly good against Melbourne and backing up against the Tigers. Easy to understand after a good day in which the club announced his re-signing for another three years until the end of the 2015 season.”
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott: “For us, we're trying to develop that winning feeling and regardless of what people say about the competition - I think it's in great shape.
“Melbourne and Richmond certainly played their best available squads and we did too so I thought the quality of footy was pretty good tonight."
Ruckman Daniel Currie: "It was good to get over the line late (against Richmond). It was tense there but (I am) absolutely stoked.
"Crashing in hard at centre bounces and providing strong contests for the midfielders was what I was basing my game on and the rest would take care of itself."
Young Roo Majak Daw: "I was really nervous early on, and then Brad Scott came to me and told me to let my instincts take over and to back myself.
"The biggest satisfaction so far is just being part of the team. We worked pretty well as a team (in the too matches) and it's great to be out there playing with guys like Boomer (Brent Harvey) and Wellsy (Daniel Wells)."
NAB Cup Round 2 v Gold Coast
March 2 at Metricon Stadium
North Melbourne 1.6.2, 1.10.4, 2.12.5, 2.13.6 (102)
Gold Coast 0.1.2, 1.3.7, 1.5.9, 1.11.14 (89)
SUPERGOALS
North Melbourne: Gysberts, Tarrant
Gold Coast: May
GOALS
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Black 3, Currie 2, Bastinac, Harvey, Cunnington, Harper, Greenwood
Gold Coast: Swallow 2, Brown 2, Hutchins, Ablett, Gorringe, Smith, Hall, Brennan, Harbrow
BEST
North Melbourne: Hansen, Black, Gibson
Gold Coast: Swallow, Ablett, Harbrow
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| Daniel Wells looks for an option downfield |
Match review - North beats the heat in Townsville
‘North Melbourne is right in the hunt for the NAB Cup after outlasting a fast-finishing Gold Coast by 13 points in sweltering conditions in Townsville on Saturday.
The Kangaroos kicked seven goals to one in the first quarter and led by as much as 53 points before winning 2.13.6 (102) to 1.11.14 (89).’
Highlights
Match highlights | YouTube
Jordan Gysberts' super goal | YouTube
Brad Scott media conference | YouTube
Robbie Tarrant's super goal | YouTube
What they said:
Michael Whiting (AFL.com.au): “While Daniel Wells was again instrumental against the Suns, it was the form of the younger midfielders that will give Brad Scott reason to smile.
“Ryan Bastinac (eight possessions), Ben Cunnington (four) and Melbourne recruit Jordan Gysberts (four) were particularly impressive in the centre of the ground, collaborating for 16 clearances.”
Brad Scott: “If you look back three years ago, goal-kicking was an area we really struggled with. There's no secret to it, we've worked hard on it and it's steadily improved ever since.
“Lachie Hansen was pretty good down back. He took nine marks and he shores us up a fair bit. He's one of the best marks going around.”
North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow: “It was a really even contribution in the first three quarters, we were superb. It was good to get another game into Ben Jacobs and Jordie Gysberts.”
NAB Cup Round 4 v Geelong
March 9 at Simonds Stadium
Geelong 0.3.6, 0.8.6, 0.10.8, 0.14.12 (96)
North Melbourne 0.3.2, 0.6.2, 0.10.8, 0.12.12 (84)
GOALS
Geelong: Chapman 3, Hawkins 3, Murdoch 2, Motlop 2, Walker 2, Selwood, Varcoe
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Daw, Petrie, Black, Adams, Bastinac, Swallow, Harper, Hansen, Ziebell
BEST
Geelong: Johnson, Selwood, Kelly, Hawkins, Murdoch, Walker, Corey
North Melbourne: Swallow, Cunnington, Ziebell, Thomas, Currie
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| Lindsay Thomas escapes the clutches of Travis Varcoe |
Match review - North falls short against Geelong
'Geelong has defeated a courageous North Melbourne by 12 points in their round three NAB Cup match at Simonds Stadium.
'Small forward Lindsay Thomas was impressive in attack for the Kangaroos, booting three goals, while Ryan Bastinac, Daniel Wells and Jack Ziebell won plenty of the ball in the midfield.'
Highlights
Match highlights | YouTube
Harper side-step, Black goal | YouTube
Brad Scott media conference | YouTube
What they said:
Peter Hanlon (The Age): “Daniel Currie dominated something of a footy kindergarten ruck duel, where he and Majak Daw went up against Mark Blicavs and Josh Walker, winning 39 hitouts and feeding the Kangaroo on-ballers.”
Brad Scott: “You have to have all three phases of the game in order, and I thought we won the ball really well against a good contested-ball side. We defended well for parts, still some areas to work on, and we were able to score as well. While not rapt with the way we went, I wasn't devastated either.
“I'm more comfortable with our preparation after that performance than I was a week ago.”
Practice match v Hawthorn
March 16 at Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn
North Melbourne 2.4, 3.8, 4.9, 5.11 (41)
Hawthorn 4.3, 8.5, 17.7, 19.8 (122)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Petrie 2, Harvey 2, Tarrant
Hawthorn: Hale 4, Franklin 3, Gunston 3, Grimley 3, Duryea, Smith, Breust, Roughead, Birchall, Stratton
BEST
North Melbourne: Grima, Cunnington, Adams, Harvey
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gunston, Sewell, Birchall, Hale, Franklin, Shiels
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| Aaron Mullett dishes a handball with pressure coming from Brad Sewell |
Match review - North Melbourne falls to Hawthorn
'Hawthorn has defeated an undermanned North Melbourne by 81 points in torrential rain at Craigieburn's Highgate Reserve on Saturday.
'Key North defender Nathan Grima made a solid return to senior football on Saturday, playing much of the game on Hawks star Lance Franklin. Although Franklin kicked three goals, Grima looked composed in his first appearance for the Roos this season, racking up 26 possessions, including 20 in the first half.'
Highlights
Drew Petrie's big mark | YouTube
Leigh Adams' courage | YouTube
Majak Daw flies high | YouTube
Brad Scott media conference | YouTube
What they said:
Brad Scott: “We came into the game with a genuine practice match mentality. We had to get game time into specific players.
“We've got about two or three spots that ten or twelve players are putting their hands up for, so we wanted to give them really good opportunities to push their case again."
Matt Windley (Herald Sun): "Ryan Bastinac was a spark in the middle, while Nathan Grima wracked up an impressive 26 possessions as he strengthened his Round 1 claims by playing a full game.”
