It's been a big few weeks for Brent Harvey. The 35-year-old came in for what many viewed as unfair criticism ahead of the Western Bulldogs clash in round two for not delivering in big games, only to all-but win the match off his own boot with three goals and 25 touches. On Sunday, Harvey stepped up again. The veteran had 23 touches and banged through two clutch goals in the final term, one a clever bouncing snap from the pocket and the other a massive set shot from outside 50m to put the Roos ahead by nine points late in the game. Harvey finished with three goals as the Roos held on for a famous victory and kept their finals ambitions well and truly alive.

 

Goalkicking has been a hot topic in the opening rounds, with former Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd among the harshest critics of modern footballers' inability to split the big sticks. But nobody could say the Roos and Power were far off the mark in round three. Between them the teams kicked 27.25, but six of those behinds slammed into the woodwork – two to the Roos and four to Port. The unluckiest of those might have been from the much-maligned John Butcher, whose only score for the match was a set shot that looked good off the boot and swung back late only to cannon into the top of the goalpost in the first term. The Power key forward now has 2.3 for the season.

 

Field umpire Jason Armstrong wouldn't have expected to be involved in any ruck duties when he arrived at Etihad Stadium, but that's exactly what happened midway through the second term. After calling a ball-up one metre from the boundary in front of the interchange gates, Armstrong hurled the ball in the air and tried to get out of there quick smart. He wasn't fast enough, and was crunched by Port's 200cm and 98kg ruckman Matthew Lobbe. Armstrong was down, but not out. He soldiered on, although removed himself from play momentarily by stationing himself in the North Melbourne forward pocket. Armstrong might have a headache for his trouble – and an argument for backing towards the boundary instead of the centre of the park – while Lobbe could face a fine for his part.

 

Both North Melbourne and Port Adelaide boasted powerful tall forwards setting up inside their respective attacking 50m arcs, but it was the fleet-footed smalls who were the main men on Sunday. The Roos' small forwards Lindsay Thomas, Aaron Mullett and Brent Harvey and Port's Chad Wingard, Angus Monfries and midfielder Hamish Hartlett combined for 14 of the game's 27 goals. Some of the big men had an impact as well, particularly Jay Schulz who slotted three for the Power.

 

By his own admission, Drew Petrie had a stinker in round one against Essendon. The Roos' stand-in skipper only touched the ball three times for no score against the Bombers, and although the veteran big man improved with 11 touches and two goals against the Western Bulldogs, he hasn't hit the lofty standards he would have liked this season. Petrie was well held again in round three, this time by Alipate Carlile. The big Roo tried hard, and dished off a shot 20m out directly in front in the second term for Aaron Mullett to waltz into an open goal, but was limited to just four touches and one behind against Port. Certainly don't write him off, but Petrie and the Roos would like the inspirational forward to find his best form soon.