Click here to watch the play unfold
As 2012 has unfolded, we've seen North find a way to continue playing in its preferred fashion when under pressure. Typically it involves a high amount of handballs to find space in a contested situation, followed by hard run and carry to create an overlap heading into the forward half.
In the season opener this wasn't the case. Essendon's spread from stoppages was superior and it forced North to be reactive rather than proactive. The result was static play when rebounding from the back half. Even in the final quarter when North made its comeback, it was more through opportunistic play, as this edition of NMFC Playbook shows.
From a kickout with almost eight minutes remaining, North trails by 15-points. As Scott Thompson marks in the back pocket, the lack of movement is evident.
 |
Drew Petrie receives a long Thompson ball about 60 metres out from the Essendon goal. Frequently in recent weeks supporters have seen Petrie quickly dish a handball to a running midfielder and North is off to the races.
However in this case, as the picture shows, there are minimal options for the big forward.
 |
Because of the forward structure, Petrie has to wheel around onto his right foot and kicks a torpedo in the direction of Daniel Wells and Aaron Edwards.
 |
While the mark and kick from Petrie was still performed quickly, it was very different to what has been occurring during North's recent winning streak. Normally when the ball reaches the forward 50 there is a numerical advantage - not the case this time.
 |
Even with a piece of Wells brilliance, the Bombers were still close to their direct opponents.
When this goal is compared to the late coast-to-coast effort against Richmond, the difference is obvious. Just about every single one of the 10 handballs in the build up were only possible because hard running created a two-on-one.
It's a measure of how much North has adapted over the course of 2012 and why it will approach this Sunday a lot differently to Round 1.
