AFL 2023 results, North Melbourne Kangaroos vs. Melbourne Demons, Round 21: Live scores, updates, stats, video, stream, result, news, blog

Melbourne has survived a big scare from North Melbourne to claim a fifth straight win, but their 32-point victory has come at a cost with Harrison Petty left in a moon boot.

Petty left the game midway through the third term after a nasty looking ankle injury and played no further part.

His absence slowed scoring for Melbourne in the 15.13 (103) to 10.11 (71) win at Blundstone Arena and will again ask questions of the Dees’ attack end.

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Melbourne’s win wasn’t without a tough fightback after coughing up a five-goal lead midway through the second term.

“We were just being soft to be honest – we weren’t cracking in at all. We weren’t at the contest,” Dees star Christian Petracca told Fox Footy post-match.

“Our forwards, myself, we weren’t jumping at the footy. Defenders, mids we had something we probably weren’t proud of.

“When you get embarrassed like that a little bit, it’s good to go back to what you know you can do, control what you can control.”

The Demons scored nine of the next 10 goals from that point in the second term to reclaim the lead and never look back.

The win lifts Melbourne into second spot – albeit potentially temporarily as Brisbane is still to face Fremantle later on Sunday.

While it was another loss for North Melbourne, taking their run of losses to 18, the Roos showed promise in the first half but couldn’t maintain the intensity for Alastair Clarkson’s first game back as head coach.

QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT

There were no late changes for either side, and it was North Melbourne doing all the attacking early.

A Max Gawn fingernail denied a goal, and a wayward Roos’ radar ensured they couldn’t break through. And down the other end, it took a moment of Kysaiah Pickett magic to get Melbourne on the board first.

“That is one of the great goals,” commentator Gerard Healy said.

“It defies logic,” David King added.

But when Steven May missed Jake Bowey from the kick-out, big Todd Goldstein pounced.

And big two goals to Eddie Ford ensured it was North Melbourne leading by 15 points midway through the first term.

When Trent Rivers and the Demons couldn’t clear their defensive half, Luke Davies-Uniacke hit up Bailey Scott and suddenly Melbourne had problems.

“They are off here the Demons,” King said.

“Going at only 40 per cent by foot.

“You’re not going to win games of AFL footy with that sort of ball use … and North Melbourne are making them pay.

“You’ve got to cash in while you’ve got momentum.”

Ford added his third for the term and when Christian Petracca couldn’t convert from the pocket, it was the Roos who took a 35-9 lead into the first change.

Nick Larkey extended North’s margin early in the second as the Demons just looked out of sorts.

Pickett kept Melbourne within striking distance when he crumbed off Harrison Petty in the square.

And it was Pickett to Petty for the next goal as the Dees closed within 21 points.

“As ugly as it is, that’s absolutely beautiful for Simon Goodwin,” King said.

“The Kangaroos have just dropped a gear and Melbourne have made them pay,” Healy added.

When Larkey made a controversial spoil in the square, Paul Curtis pounced to soccer the ball through.

But down the other end, Roo Darcy Tucker had a mare when he appeared unsure if he could rush the ball through – and Alex Neal-Bullen took full advantage.

Kade Chandler brought Melbourne within 16 points when he slotted his first for the day from a set shot and it was North with all the pressure on them.

“The Dees are charging,” King said.

All of Melbourne’s good work came unstuck when Petty coughed up a “silly” 50m penalty for a “love tap” on Todd Goldstein.

Just as North looked to steady, Pickett again produced the goods for his side when opponent Jack Ziebell went to ground on the slippery Tassie surface.

The Dees dodged a bullet when Jaidyn Stephenson opted against dishing the hands and went for the shot on the run himself – only to have the footy smothered.

And on the rebound, it took seconds to get the ball in Jacob van Rooyen’s hands – and he converted after the siren.

At half time, North Melbourne’s lead was cut to just four points 56-52.

“That is so deflating for the Kangaroos,” commentator Anthony Hudson said.

“The last few minutes have been disappointing (for North),” Healy added.

The Roos had a tough start to the third as they struggled to clear their back half.

May racked up intercepts but Melbourne couldn’t find the goal to put them in front, despite a 6-0 inside 50 count to open the third.

Tempers threatened to boil over between Jy Simpkin and Angus Brayshaw as the Roos continued to struggle to find an avenue forward.

A remarkable stat from the first 10 minutes of the term, the territory battle showed the ball spent 99% of time in Melbourne’s front half, compared to North’s 1%.

Petty finally got the goal Melbourne had been pushing for as North appeared without energy.

But when Petty limped off after a big Ben McKay tackle, there were concerns for how Melbourne’s forward line would function as he was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Dees needed not worry as first Christian Petracca flew high and converted and then Neal-Bullen found a goal off just two steps under pressure.

“If you’re a Melbourne fan, you’re excited by this,” King said.

“It’s brutal and it’s beautiful.

“18 inside 50s and they’ve kicked seven goals.”

Simpkin ended Melbourne’s run of seven-straight goals, but again van Rooyen was able to deflate any North hopes.

“Melbourne are just wanting it more,” Healy lamented.

Staring down a 28-point deficit at the final change, the Roos did give themselves a chance in the fourth with Curtis Taylor kicking a goal inside the opening 10 minutes.

But from there, the match turned into an arm wrestle as a Melbourne forward line without Petty didn’t have a focal target while the North attack end was easily beaten by their Demon defenders.

Coach Simon Goodwin took the cautious approach in the final term, with Petracca and big Max Gawn benched early and remaining on the pine.

By full time, it was Melbourne who walked away with the 103-71 win.

THE 3-2-1 …

3. MELBOURNE’S KEY WEAPON GOES DOWN IN HUGE PRE-FINALS BLOW

The Demons had struggled in attack for almost two months as they couldn’t find the right forward line balance – until Harrison Petty was shifted.

As a forward, Petty kicked six goals in last week’s win over Richmond but also proved a big marking target to relieve pressure on young Jacob van Rooyen.

With Kysaiah Pickett able to get to Petty’s feet, his form lifted immediately – and that was again evident against the Roos on Sunday.

But Melbourne’s premiership hopes took a big hit midway through the third term when Petty’s ankle got caught awkwardly in a big Ben McKay tackle.

The former defender-turned forward immediately signalled for help and limped from the field.

He was taken straight down to the rooms and placed in a moon boot in worrying signs.

“It’s a big story emerging,” Fox Footy’s Gerard Healy said.

“It’s not a pretty look, I’ve got to say.

“He turned it (his left ankle) inside out!

“It’s not supposed to bend that way.

“There’s no doubt he’s probably done some serious damage.

“It’s a serious injury and he’s going to be out for a few weeks at best.”

Fellow commentator David King agreed the injury was a “huge” blow to Melbourne’s chances if Petty’s injury lay off was as serious as first feared.

“They’ve finally found the answer to their forward 50 woes and it was the competitor in Petty that made their forward 50 options they’ve possessed the last few weeks,” he said.

“They’ve averaged 111 points the last three games, and I think largely because of that guy.

“Coming into a finals series, you want to be in peak health.

“That’s a huge story – he’s been their competitor, their focal point forward of centre Harrison Petty.”

King said the Petty injury is likely to open the door for the return of banished ruck recruit Brodie Grundy, who has been forced to ply his trade in the VFL and build his resume as a forward.

“(Bayley) Fritsch comes back but he’s a different player – so do you have to look at Brodie Grundy?” King questioned.

“They’re going to need a tall target and if they think van Rooyen isn’t it, and he’s probably too early to be … then I think Grundy must come into the frame,” Healy added.

Before Petty headed to the bench, he was the number one target inside 50 for both sides with 10 for the match.

2. ‘HORRIBLE BLUNDER’ COSTS ROOS DEARLY

It’s no secret North Melbourne have endured a horror 2023 campaign with little to celebrate.

But when they found themselves five goals up against a Melbourne outfit widely tipped to be a premiership contender come September, the question became can North hold on?

Sadly they could not, with their day summed up by a horror effort from Darcy Tucker.

With his side up by 29 points midway through the third term, Tucker’s “horrible goal line blunder” sparked Melbourne’s run of nine of the next 10 goals.

Running back towards his goal, Tucker appeared unsure if he was under enough pressure to rush the footy through.

And he paid the ultimate price when he attempted to pick up the Sherrin and dropped it, leaving the footy there for Alex Neal-Bullen to slot through.

“That’s unforgivable,” commentator David King said.

“I’ve never seen a rule that has bamboozled more players than this one around the goal line,” Gerard Healy added.

“Only dumb players; only players who can’t think their way through certain situations,” King added.

The two-time North premiership player was stunned the rule continued to confuse.

“Every player in the competition knows under pressure you can force the ball through,” he lamented.

“You’re three and a half metres from your defensive end – you just knock that through. You don’t need to take possession.

“You shouldn’t be trying to grab the ball.

“In the end, it’s a horrible blunder.

“You just hope this doesn’t create the spiral that has happened so easily … losing becomes a habit.

“That’s a goal that shouldn’t be conceded from a Kangaroos’ point of view.”

1. IS THIS THE BLUEPRINT TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE’S BRILLIANT BACKLINE?

Steven May and Jake Lever are a formidable duo down back for the Dees, but in the opening term in Tassie North Melbourne made them look second-rate.

In a five-goal to one opening quarter blitz, it was Lever who copped the brunt of the punishment as his opponent Eddie Ford had three of those five goals.

Mastercoach Alastair Clarkson showed his hand early, as he used Ford as an attacking weapon to keep Lever accountable.

And when he wasn’t – instead trying to float off and intercept, Ford made Lever pay dearly on the scoreboard.

“Couldn’t control the ball early the Melbourne Football Club and paid the heavy price on the scoreboard,” commentator David King said.

“Strategically let’s look at what Alastair Clarkson has done first day back in the chair – Eddie Ford tagging Jake Lever.

“It brought enormous success in the first quarter.

“Lever wants to get off and intercept mark, but he knows Ford is likely to come with him.

“But Ford released at the perfect moment where he could then mark the ball inside 50.

“He (Lever) wants to leave Eddie Ford. He thinks Ford is going to come with him … but he doesn’t, he leaves.

“The big question for Jake Lever is do I stay or do I go? When do I release from him?

“That’s the challenge he’s thrown back Alastair Clarkson to Simon Goodwin.”

Lever had just two intercept marks in the opening term as North Melbourne got on top.

While Ford kicked three first quarter goals, he didn’t add to that tally from that point in the match.

“Kicking three goals in the first term would rattle most defenders … But Lever clamps Ford (in the second term) and then is able to get off and still play that intercept role,” King said.

“It’s been a test of wills if you like.

“A great arm wrestle between the two.”

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