The Magpies had been too fast and too clear as they cruised to a 35-point win over North Melbourne, however their seventh win on the trot was marred by a knee harm to milestone man Steele Sidebottom.
With a sea of household and mates within the crowd for his three hundredth recreation, Sidebottom hobbled off with a suspected medial ligament sprain halfway via the opening time period and was subbed out of the sport.
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The Kangaroos introduced extra of final week’s competitiveness underneath caretaker coach Brett Ratten and booted six ultimate quarter objectives, however misplaced the sport via two main lapses the place the competitors leaders piled on 4 fast majors within the opening time period and through time-on within the third.
Hugh Greenwood and Will Phillips had been sturdy on the coalface because the Roos gained the clearance battle, however they didn’t have the working energy to match the Magpies brigade led by Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos, who hit targets and adjusted angles with ease to stretch North’s defence.
Forward duo Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar had been dynamic for the Roos and kicked 4 between them within the ultimate time period, solely receiving the availability they wanted after the warmth was out of the sport.
MELANCHOLY MILESTONE
Steele Sidebottom made a crimson sizzling begin to his three hundredth recreation however inside quarter-hour was down within the rooms and dominated out of the sport with a medial ligament harm to his proper knee.
The elegant wingman was met with a rousing cheer for every of his 4 kicks, which had been essentially the most of any participant on the bottom earlier than he was compelled from the sphere with the harm stemming from contact after a giant deal with he laid on Cam Zurhaar.
The Magpies may have a tricky time changing Sidebottom whereas he’s sidelined, with fellow cardio beast Pat Lipinski unlikely to be match till after their spherical 14 bye.
PHILLIPS ARRIVES
Former No. 3 choose Will Phillips introduced himself in his twenty third recreation, racking up 29 touches because the Kangaroos midfield had the higher of the Magpies across the stoppages.
He was only one shy of his career-high 19 disposals at halftime, and impressed together with his clear fingers and acceleration out of stoppages in a full-time midfield function.
The Roos midfield was comprehensively crushed in transition by the Magpies, however the important clearance win over the premiership favourites suggests Phillips has cemented his place within the midfield combine.
DEPRECIATING ROO
Ben McKay’s patchy kind this season continued on Sunday, with the restricted free agent soundly crushed within the air defensively and solely managing a single handball to halftime.
He didn’t carry a ball to floor in a one-on-one with the considerably undersized Will Hoskin-Elliott, who then transformed his set shot, earlier than moments later leaking one other purpose after being simply labored underneath a ball by Brody Mihocek.
The 25-year-old’s performances are undermining his market worth and have probably pushed away rival bidders, however the instant problem for the Kangaroos is there are not any actual alternate options to problem him for his key defensive publish.
Source: www.news.com.au
