In 2012 it was the Kangaroos’ first game after the mid-season bye and the second time it met the Suns. The first clash was in Round 5, and despite Gold Coast missing Gary Ablett it put a fright into North, leading by a point at half-time.
PRESS PLAY above to watch match highlights | YouTube
The importance of Ablett was on full show at Metricon on this night, with all of North’s plans to quieten the superstar falling by the wayside.
In the early stages it was an even contest with just one goal apiece in the first term. The night skies and floodlights made for dewy conditions and a slightly slippery Sherrin.
It was the Roos who adjusted first in the second term, controlling the tempo of the game throughout the quarter. They spent 47.5 per cent of the time in possession, compared to just 33.5 for Gold Coast.
However inaccuracy proved to be the main culprit which held North back from extending its lead. Despite having nine scoring shots to just three for the Suns, the Roos won the quarter by just a point, kicking 2.7 to 3.0.
Brent Harvey kicked the last goal of the first half and carried on his momentum into the third quarter. Within the first five minutes he kicked another two majors, extending North’s lead to 15 points. A reply to then Sun Taylor Hine slowed the momentum, but after two more goals to Lindsay Thomas, the Roos' lead was out to 24 points.
It appeared North would run away with the game, but Ablett almost single-handedly dragged the Suns back into it. First he made no mistake with a great goal from 60 metres out, then to start the last quarter he found space at a stoppage and snapped truly within the first minute.
As the game developed into an Ablett v Harvey shootout, North's former skipper responded with a banana goal from the boundary, his fourth for the evening.
A 17-point lead after 10 minutes of the final term was quickly cut to four after two consecutive Suns goals. North’s season was essentially on the line, and Drew Petrie responded with a commanding performance. He grabbed four marks in the last quarter, three of which were contested, and he kicked the Roos’ last goal of the night.
North then controlled the last two minutes of the game to squeak out a narrow seven point victory and returned to Aegis Park with momentum which would ultimately see it take the AFL by storm over the next two months.
Gold Coast 1.3.9, 4.3.27, 7.5.47, 12.8.80
North Melbourne 1.5.11, 3.12.30, 7.17.59, 11.21.87
Goals
Gold Coast: Ablett 4, Bennell 2, Brennan 1, Caddy 1, Day 1, Hine 1, Matera 1, Patrick 1
North Melbourne: Harvey 4, Petrie 2, Thomas 2, Cunnington 1, Firrito 1, Wells 1
Brownlow Medal
3 – Gary Ablett (GC), 2 – Brent Harvey (NM), 1 – Drew Petrie (NM)
