NORTH Melbourne has gone some way to steadying its inconsistent season with a thumping 59-point win over St Kilda at a cold and wet Blundstone Arena in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.
The 13.14 (92) to 3.15 (33) scoreline was set up in the first half, with the wayward Saints taking until the last minute of the second term to register a goal, coming off the boot of skipper Nick Riewoldt. To that stage they had scored nine behinds with Riewoldt being the Saints’ main sinner, missing three very gettable shots.
The Kangaroos’ dominance started in the midfield with Andrew Swallow, Ryan Bastinac and Sam Wright racking up possessions, while Nick Dal Santo was good without being spectacular against his former club.
For St Kilda it was once again veterans Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna who carried the load, while David Armitage (30 disposals and two goals) got plenty of the ball. Shane Savage continued to improve his output since coming back into the senior side, picking up 22 touches while playing a run-with role on Dal Santo.
The Saints can also take some solace from Sam Fisher getting through his first game in 13 months, but coach Alan Richardson lamented the shortage of experience in his side.
“The reality is we’re a pretty inexperienced group and some of those guys are getting opportunities because of the circumstances we find ourselves in,” Richardson said.
“We’d much rather have (Sam) Gilbert and (Jaryn) Geary and these sorts of guys out there playing for us, but they’re not.
“Younger blokes are getting opportunities in really significant positions, so you’re going to get some inconsistency.
“We identified after the game we had eight that didn’t get it done for us in terms of the effort required. We can’t afford to carry eight, no team can.”
The writing was on the wall early for the 'visitors' and North led by 30 points at the first break.
Thomas booted two of his side's three in the second quarter as Riewoldt typified the Saints' day, missing a set shot from 15m out in front.
The Saints finally got their first in the 28th minute of the second quarter, with Riewoldt's conversion from 25m out.
The Kangaroos came out after the long break and kicked the first three of the third, including consecutive goals to Bastinac, before the Saints got their second of the day through Armitage but trailed by 56 points at the final break.
Kangaroos coach Brad Scott will be disappointed his side could only manage a single goal, through Tasmanian crowd favourite Ben Brown, in the final term, but he said he knew his team was 'on' from the opening quarter.
“I thought it was a really good start to the game,” Scott said. “We focussed a lot on that as we do every week, but the guys came out and we knew right from the start the attitude was terrific.
“We converted opportunities and looked really good.”
Securing an emphatic victory was important for North Melbourne after a fortnight that saw it drop a game to the cellar dwelling Brisbane Lions, then follow up with an impressive win over reigning premiers Hawthorn.
However, the eyes of the football world will be keen to see them back up this win with another against Carlton next Friday.
Meanwhile the end of the season can probably not come quick enough for St Kilda after its 11th consecutive loss and with Fremantle waiting next round.
Lachie Hansen comes to grief at the hands of Jack Billings and Sam Dunell. Picture: AFL Media
NORTH MELBOURNE 5.3 8.4 12.7 13.14 (92)
ST KILDA 0.3 1.9 2.11 3.15 (33)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Goldstein 2, Bastinac 2, Thomas 2, Harvey 2, Adams, McMahon, Black Petrie, Brown
St Kilda: Armitage 2, Riewoldt
BEST
North Melbourne: Wright, Harvey, Goldstein, Bastinac, Cunnington
St Kilda: Armitage, Hayes, Montagna, Riewoldt, Fisher
INJURIES
North Melbourne: McDonald (illness) replaced in selected side by McKenzie, Hansen (TBC)
St Kilda: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Brad McKenzie replaced Lachie Hansen in the third quarter
St Kilda: Cam Shenton replaced Seb Ross in the third quarter
Reports: Sam Dunell reported for striking Sam Wright in the second quarter
Umpires: Foot, Jeffrey, O’Gorman
Official crowd: 10, 641 at Blundstone Arena
