PLAYERS will continue to ice matches by manipulating the shot clock late in games, North Melbourne youngster Mason Wood says.
With his team leading by just one-point with 22 seconds left in Sunday's game against the Saints at Etihad Stadium, Wood, 22, won a holding the ball free kick against Jack Newnes deep inside his forward 50.
Resembling a basketball player holding the ball in his side's frontcourt with time expiring, Wood used up all of his available 30-second time limit by keeping a close eye on the countdown clock on the scoreboard much to the chagrin of frustrated Saints supporters.
"I'm just playing within the rules and until they (the AFL) change the rules, players will keep doing it," Wood told AFL.com.au after North's thrilling seven-point win.
Wood said the thought came to him after he watched teammate Ben Brown run down the clock in similar circumstances late in the game against Fremantle in round four.
"The runner came out and told me there was only 20 seconds left in the match, so no matter how hard the Saints fans booed I was never going to let the footy go," Wood said.
Five talking points: St Kilda v North Melbourne
Saints coach Alan Richardson gave Wood credit for the composure he displayed, but he also questioned whether it was a worthy finish to a frenzied final few minutes of a close game.
"I thought it was very well done, given that they're the rules. If that had've been one of our players I would've thought 'gee, great composure young man'," Richardson said.
"It was very frustrating though, it was the longest 30 seconds in the coach's box I reckon I've ever had.
"It did seem a very long time. We don't get the benefit of being able to see that – or I couldn't from where I was sitting – but I thought he played it really well.
"Is it a good look? I'm not sure. But given the rules and the circumstances, I thought he did a really good job."
North coach Brad Scott applauded Wood for the poise he showed and revealed the club had trained specifically for comparable scenarios over pre-season.
"He just knew how long there was to go and the AFL put the shot clock up so he just did the maths and thought, 'This game's over," Scott said.
WATCH: Brad Scott on the shot clock
The AFL introduced the countdown clock at the start of the season after a positive trial in the NAB Challenge.
A match official activates the 30-second countdown clock when players have a set shot from inside 50.
