VIDEOS: Brad Scott press conference | Match highlights | Wells brilliant goal | Harvey from the boundary
Can't view the videos? Visit the NMFC YouTube channel
NORTH Melbourne's brave challenge to be the first team to defeat West Coast in 2012 has fallen just short, going down to the Eagles by 25 points at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
The Eagles defied a mounting injury toll and the loss of star ruckman Nic Naitanui pre-game to win 17.18 (120) to 15.5 (95) against the Kangaroos in a tight, high-pressure match.
Naitanui was a late withdrawal with hamstring tightness, and the Eagles also lost Adam Selwood, who split the webbing in his hand late in the third quarter.
But they resisted a challenge from the accurate Kangaroos, who made the most of limited opportunities, and kicked away in the final term to remain the AFL's only undefeated team.
Scott Selwood continued his brilliant start to the season to lead West Coast's midfield with 35 possessions (16 contested) and a game-high nine clearances.
The rising Eagle went head-to-head with North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow (29 possessions and eight clearances) and was the game's dominant midfielder.
Without Naitanui, who is only expected to miss one week, veteran ruckman Dean Cox carried the Eagles' ruck and had a big influence against Hamish McIntosh, finishing with 32 hit-outs and a goal.
"We really got touched up around the footy and around the clearance area in the first half and Cox was on top of McIntosh," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said after the loss.
"We addressed a lot of those things at half-time and they improved as the game went on. But you can't get comprehensively outplayed around the stoppages like we did in the first half.
"When you come over to Perth to play West Coast you expect a really solid contest and you just can't give them that sort of start."
Half-back Shannon Hurn was also damaging in a return to form, racking up 24 disposals and two goals after being subdued against Richmond and Hawthorn in the last fortnight.
The Eagles entered the match without injured forwards Josh Kennedy (ankle), Mark LeCras (knee) and Mark Nicoski (hamstring), but they still managed 35 scoring shots, with Josh Hill booting four goals.
However, the forward line could be further hit though by the potential loss of Ashton Hams, who is expected to face scrutiny from the Match Review Panel after leaving the ground and collecting Swallow high with a front-on bump.
As well as Swallow, Jack Ziebell (22 possessions and a goal), Ben Cunnington (15 and three) and Ryan Bastinac (18 and six clearances) were impressive for North Melbourne.
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The 3-3 Kangaroos snatched a two-point lead halfway through the third quarter and entered the last break 13 points behind, however, they conceded three straight goals to open the final term and were left on the back foot.
WEST COAST 4.4 7.10 12.15 17.18 (120)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.0 7.2 12.2 15.5 (95)
GOALS
West Coast: Hill 4, Hurn 2, Shuey 2, Scott Selwood, Rosa, Cox, Masten, Hams, Lynch, Darling, Lycett, Sheppard
North Melbourne: Cunnington 3, Harvey 2, Macmillan 2, Ziebell, Thomas, Wells, Wright, Pedersen, Petrie, Edwards, Harper
BEST
West Coast: Scott Selwood, Hurn, Cox, Priddis, Hill, Waters, Rosa
North Melbourne: Swallow, Cunnington, Ziebell, Thompson, Bastinac, Harvey
INJURIES
West Coast: Naitanui (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Lycett, Adam Selwood (hand)
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Brad Sheppard replaced Adam Selwood in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Aaron Mullett replaced Robbie Tarrant at three-quarter time
Reports: Ashton Hams (West Coast) for rough conduct on Andrew Swallow in the second quarter
Umpires: Farmer, Leppard, Pannell
Official crowd: 37,202 at Patersons Stadium
VIDEOS: Brad Scott press conference | Match highlights | Wells brilliant goal | Harvey from the boundary
Can't view the videos? Visit the NMFC YouTube channel
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
