It was a promoter’s dream – two of the league’s most athletic players, Nic Naitanui against Majak Daw. But rival coaches Brad Scott and John Worsfold were in no hurry to have the pair ruck against each other. It wasn’t until Daw had spilled a couple of marks, and pushed Will Schofield’s head into the dirt after a contest, that he was thrown into the ruck against the big Eagle. The crowd roared as the two big leapers faced off, but it was not the home favourite who got his palm to the ball. Daw timed his leap best and won the first duel. He later kicked a goal after taking a mark inside 50. But they were about the only victories he had. By the time he was subbed out of the game in the third quarter, Naitanui had nine disposals and 13 hit-outs. Daw had four disposals and three hit-outs. And – most importantly – Naitanui booted the winning goal.
2. Wayward out west
In the previous two weeks, West Coast had kicked 38.17 in matches against Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs. They won both times. But in earlier matches against Carlton and Port Adelaide they managed only 17.42. They lost both matches. So, when they kicked 1.7 during a dominant second quarter, Eagles fans were left wondering whether it would be another one of “those nights”. And, it would. But, thanks to the magic of Naitanui, it wouldn’t cost West Coast victory. The home side finished with 12.18, and the coaching staff will surely be scratching their heads over the team’s goalkicking woes. Chief among those responsible was Mark LeCras, who was once considered one of the best kicks in the league. From ample opportunities, the class forward kicked just 1.4.
3. All going Wells
Daniel Wells likes coming home. Last year’s horror elimination final against West Coast aside, the Peel Thunder product tends to save his best performances for the wide-open spaces of Patersons Stadium. On Friday night, he was the dominant player in the first quarter, racking up 10 disposals as North Melbourne continually pumped the ball inside 50. While John Worsfold was able to get his charges to lock down on Wells after quarter-time, he still played an influential role, finishing with 23 disposals and eight marks. Fellow West Australian Aaron Black was also influential, with 14 disposals and three goals.
4. Heart of Glass
It wasn’t your conventional match-up, but one of the highlights of the match was Darren Glass’s performance on Lindsay Thomas, who was leading the race for the Coleman Medal before Friday night. The West Coast skipper, in his 250th game, was always going to have Thomas covered in the air, but the nippy goalsneak would have fancied his chances of pinching a goal when the ball was on the ground. How wrong he was. Glass also had Thomas covered around the packs, and he finished goalless and with just three disposals to his name. Glass was one of the best on ground, thwarting North Melbourne time and time again.
5. Like the Tigers of old
Now sitting at 3-5, it could so easily have been 6-2 for North Melbourne. A four-point loss to Geelong, a three-point loss to the Hawks and, now, a two-point loss to West Coast could cost them a finals appearance. But Brad Scott wouldn't be drawn on comparisons with the Richmond team which lost six close games last year. "It's not going to come back to haunt us because it's happened," he said. "What do we do? If we don't finish where we want to finish at the end of the year, do we look back and say ‘what if'? People are going to do that anyway. If you put Fremantle and Essendon aside … we have played the five best teams in the competition and pushed them all the way." But, when push comes to shove in September, the Roos might rue those close losses.
