NORTH Melbourne recruited former Saint Nick Dal Santo for his ability to perform on the big stage and help the team win finals. Mission accomplished.
The skilled and composed veteran was superb in Friday night's semi-final win, not only when he had the ball but in the direction he offered teammates, who didn't have the big-game experience he has.
Dal Santo moved to the Kangaroos from a rebuilding St Kilda because he wanted to ply his trade on the big stage, and you could see what it meant to him when the siren sounded at the MCG.
The 30-year-old slumped for a moment, then erupted in front of the crowd at half-forward, then hugged 18-year-old teammate Kayne Turner after four quarters of guidance.
Performance against Geelong
If ruckman Todd Goldstein was best on ground, Dal Santo wasn't far behind, finishing with 35 possessions, six inside 50s and a goal.
A midfielder at his core, it has been common for Dal Santo to line up across half-back and that is where he did a lot of his work on Friday night, finishing with a team-high five rebound 50s.
The backline is where Dal Santo was needed when the Roos were under pressure, but it is also where he would launch scoring chains, gathering cleanly and shooting out crisp handballs.
It's where he would settle as a loose man deep in the final quarter when the Cats threatened to steal the match, winning some crucial possessions and scrapping the ball forward.
The beauty of Dal Santo's performance was his ability to roam where his team needed him and be effective. He was the midfield architect when the Roos surged to a 31-point lead in the third quarter, finding space and hitting targets.
Like Sam Mitchell in the Hawks' qualifying win over Geelong last week, the game slowed down when Dal Santo had the ball.
When he didn't have the ball he was screaming at teammates, pointing and giving direction. For a young teammate like Turner, that was invaluable.
The Cats didn't feel the need to tag the classy left footer, with Mitch Duncan his usual opponent at stoppages. At times it appeared easy for Dal Santo to drift off the pack and work into positions to receive the footy.
With teammates Daniel Wells and Brent Harvey under heavy attention, Dal Santo inevitably became the player who damaged the Cats most.
That was the theory North Melbourne worked to when they recruited him, and it came to fruition perfectly on Friday night.
High point
Eleven minutes into the third quarter the Kangaroos were willing the ball forward, with Turner putting his body on the line and Sam Gibson winning a ground ball just inside 50. Under pressure, Gibson got a handball off to Dal Santo, who settled on his left foot and slotted a crucial goal on a difficult angle. The roar from the North Melbourne fans indicated its importance after the Cats had landed a blow at the other end.
Low point
This is nit-picking, but late in the third quarter after a brilliant patch, Dal Santo found himself ball watching on the offensive side at a stoppage and his opponent at the time, Mitch Duncan, got a jump on him. Duncan burst forward and sent the ball inside 50, but the Cats couldn't capitalise. Given the Roos' hit-out dominance (55-31), Dal Santo probably had the right to assume an offensive position.
The stats sheet
| KICKS | HANDBALLS | DISPOSALS | INSIDE 50s | CLEARANCES | CONTESTED POSSESSIONS | UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS | GOALS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Q2 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Q3 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Q4 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 13 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 24 | 1 |
What they said in the rooms
"He was exceptional tonight. We knew the player we were getting and the composure under pressure, but I couldn't have hoped for the level-headedness he provides our group. He's been there and done that. He's played 18 finals or something now and he lives for this time of year." – coach Brad Scott
"It's really good to have blokes with that experience around you. They help you keep your nerves down and keep our head in the game. There were a few times with rotations and we were one short on the wing and he'd call me around and send himself back. He's got great football smarts and he knows when to do it. He's just very clever. If he gets a tag he might take them to half-forward and try and work into the midfield." – teammate Kayne Turner
How will he fare against the Swans?
Recent form suggests he will be a major asset against the Swans, who should be expected to put more heat on the Kangaroos than they've experienced all season. In his most recent meeting against the Swans, in round four, Dal Santo won 28 possessions and was among the best. In 2011, as an often-tagged Saint, he won 33 possessions and seven clearances against the Swans in an elimination final. His experience as one of seven Kangaroos to play in a preliminary final will be vital. It wouldn't surprise to see a tag go his way.
