The equation was so easy for Alastair Clarkson and North Melbourne.
All the Kangaroos needed to do was lose to the Gold Coast in Hobart on Saturday afternoon, which might have been a twenty first consecutive defeat, and the No. 1 decide on this 12 months’s AFL Draft could be theirs.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
With that comes Harley Reid, the unanimous first decide within the draft who’s broadly thought-about a superstar-in-waiting.
Four-time premiership successful coach Clarkson is without doubt one of the craftiest minds within the business and the expectation was he would finesse his Kangaroos nonetheless was wanted to make sure defeat and a shot at a uncommon expertise to assist them again up the AFL ladder.
But none of them learn the script.
Instead, North overcame deficits at quarter-time and half-time to kick 13 objectives to simply six after the principle break to seal a surprising 20.12 (132) to 14.13 (97) victory.
A 3rd win for the 12 months and first since spherical two lifted North Melbourne above West Coast on share and left the Eagles in pole place for final place and what has been billed all season because the Harley Reid Cup.
The Roos waited all the way in which to spherical 24 to kick over 100 factors in a sport, with younger key ahead Nick Larkey kicking a career-high 9 objectives.
While there have been jubilant scenes within the Shinboner’s dressing room after the win, the response on social media was pure disbelief on the alternative tossed away at Blundstone Arena.
It additionally led to some speculating if any membership truly desires the prospect to draft Reid, the highly effective 18-year-old from rural Victoria who has been producing common highlights all through 2023 for quite a lot of golf equipment.
The matter isn’t fairly finalised but, with the Eagles nonetheless an opportunity to flip the script as soon as extra, one thing Adam Simpson’s facet has already carried out a couple of occasions over the closing weeks of the season.
Both the Eagles and Kangaroos have been using 16-game shedding streaks when the groups met in Perth in spherical 20, which the house facet gained by 5 factors.
West Coast almost managed a shock win towards Essendon the next week earlier than struggling a one-point defeat after which appeared the doubtless picket spooner after a demoralising 101-point thrashing by the hands of Fremantle in spherical 22.
Seemingly unable to simply accept the highest decide within the draft, West Coast hit again amid a torrent of criticism of Simpson with a surprising highway win over the Western Bulldogs that gave the benefit again to North Melbourne.
All eyes now flip to Saturday night time’s conflict between the Eagles and Crows, which is able to lastly end in a winner of this Harley Reid Cup.
In commentary, former Hawk Ben Dixon and ex-Geelong and North full ahead Cameron Mooney each applauded the Kangaroos’ victory, regardless of its apparent repercussions.
“It’s the new beginnings for North Melbourne,” Dixon mentioned on Fox Footy. “The first time this season they’ve actually kicked a hundred points.
“So if anyone thought they were tanking, they can put that to rest.”
Mooney took it a step additional.
“What a day,” he mentioned. “What a day for (Larkey), what a day for the club.
“There might be a couple of North supporters saying ‘what are you doing?’
“(But) take the win. It’s about the culture and getting wins for this footy club.
“And you’re still going to get some really good young kids (in the draft).”
Originally printed as North Melbourne slammed for doubtless blowing shot at AFL No. 1 decide
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
