North Melbourne have produced a goalless first half for the primary time in virtually 44 years as St Kilda prevailed by 30 factors within the ugliest sport of the AFL season so far.
There have been few highlights in what Saints coach Ross Lyon described as a “frustrating” contest on Sunday regardless of good circumstances beneath the roof at Marvel Stadium.
Captain Jack Steele (20 disposals, 9 clearances) and ruckman Rowan Marshall (21, 5) helped steer the Saints to a 8.16 (64) to 4.10 (34) triumph, with Dan Butler and Jack Higgins kicking two targets apiece.
Marshall completed the match on the bench with ice on his left ankle after Jade Gresham had already been substituted out with knee ache, although Lyon mentioned each could be match to play in opposition to Adelaide in spherical 9.
The outcome reaffirmed the Saints’ (6-2) spot within the prime 4 after losses in two of their earlier three matches.
“It was a messy game. Both teams will want to get rid of it pretty quick,” Lyon mentioned.
“I can’t speak for the other team but it was frustrating.
“When we had full alternatives we turned them into half.
“We tried to take the game on and play quick but we just ran into errors.”
The Kangaroos, now on a six-match dropping streak, set information for the incorrect causes as they kicked 0.7 from 22 ahead entries within the first half.
It was the primary time that they had been goalless on the primary break since spherical 12, 1979.
Nick Larkey finally broke the drought on the three-minute mark of the third quarter and kicked his second 4 minutes later, slicing the margin to 10 factors.
But the Saints steadied with three of the subsequent 4 targets and fought out a scrappy win.
Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson joked King Charles’ coronation would have been a extra thrilling watch however was happy his facet was extra aggressive than in current weeks.
“Everyone would’ve seen some opportunities that we had, particularly in the first half, when there were three chances that were nearly walk-in sodas and somehow we found a way to miss them,” Clarkson mentioned.
“The Saints missed some shots too, so in terms of the quality of the game as a spectacle, it wasn’t there on both sides.
“But when it comes to the competition … we have been in that sport of footy.”
Saints young gun Mattaes Phillipou provided a rare highlight when he soared over teammate Brad Crouch and Darcy Tucker for a huge final-quarter mark.
Tucker was also on the receiving end of a huge bump from Jack Sinclair.
North Melbourne spearhead Larkey finished with three goals, all in the third quarter, and young star Harry Sheezel gathered 30 disposals in another strong display.
Kangaroos veteran Ben Cunnington was substituted out for the second time this season, having managed simply seven disposals in three quarters.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
