The GIANTS have stormed away late from North Melbourne for a 42-point win at Blundstone Oval in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.
The GIANTS won 15.19 (109) to 10.7 (67).
They dominated the inside-50 count with 71 to 49, including a massive 29 in the second quarter, but couldn't make that count on the scoreboard until the last quarter, when they kicked six goals to two.
The win takes GIANTS to 2-1 for the season, while the Kangaroos remain winless.
Ahead at every break, the GIANTS didn't ever look in doubt in the southern capital, but they battled early inaccuracy.
The talented Josh Kelly finished with 31 disposals and a goal, after a week in which a reported massive contract offer from North dominated the news, Callan Ward had 29 disposals and a goal, and Dylan Shiel had 27 disposals.
“It has been a big week (for Kelly) and we know there’s going to be a fair bit of speculation on him, but I thought he handled it really well,” GIANTS coach Leon Cameron said of his star midfielder post-match.
“He’s such a professional kid he just gets on with it and he knows when to put things out of his brain and just get on with business.”
Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron booted three goals each as the top scorers for the GIANTS.
Steve Johnson's 500th goal made the 33-year-old the 55th player to rack up the milestone, but it didn't come smoothly.
Johnson's first chance came in the opening two minutes when a scrappy kick went askew for a minor score.
Then early in the third quarter the half-forward launched premature celebrations after a score was subsequently ruled to have come off his knee.
Just a minute later, from two metres out, Johnson made sure of his 500th goal.
It stretched the GIANTS' lead to 20 points from which the Roos didn't recover.
The result leaves the Kangaroos winless for the season, while the Giants are now 2-1.
The Roos were without tall forward Majak Daw who was a late withdrawal from the clash after suffering concussion at training during the week.
There were a couple of inspired performances for the Roos including Braydon Preuss, who finished his third game with two goals, 16 disposals and 26 hit-outs.
“(He was) really, really impressive,” Brad Scott said of the 206cm Queenslander. “(He) took another step forward again today after a step forward last week.
“Marked the ball really strongly around the ground, competed well in the ruck, so he’s got a bright future.”
Captain Jack Ziebell recorded 28 disposals and a goal in his 150th game.
MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Majak Daw was a late withdrawal for the Kangaroos, failing to overcome the effects of a head-knock sustained at training on Friday. Daw didn’t travel to Hobart as a result of the concussion, but is expected to return for the Good Friday fixture against the Bulldogs next round.
GIANTS: Ryan Griffen had his head taped during the first half to stem bleeding after a knock, but far more worrying for GIANTS’ fans was the sight of Griffen emerging from the rooms on crutches after half-time and spending the rest of the afternoon on the back row of the interchange bench.
Phil Davis also came off second best following a heavy collision with Jack Ziebell and will be assessed further in the coming days for potential shoulder damage.
NEXT UP
North Melbourne can look forward to a ground-breaking match against the Bulldogs, entering new territory for the AFL in the inaugural Good Friday fixture at Etihad Stadium.
For the GIANTS, it’s another road-trip, but this time for a home fixture at UNSW Canberra Oval against Port Adelaide
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 5.4 8.6 10.7 (67)
GIANTS 3.4 6.11 9.15 15.19 (109)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Preuss 2, Goldstein, Ziebell, Swallow, Brown, Dumont, Clarke, Garner, Turner
GIANTS: Cameron 3, Greene 3, Lobb 2, Reid 2, Johnson, Hopper, Kelly, Ward, Wilson
BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Hansen, Preuss, Mullett, McDonald
GIANTS: Kelly, Ward, Cameron, Greene, Shiel, Mumford
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Daw (concussion) replaced in selected side by Clarke
GIANTS: Buntine replaced in selected side by Corr, Griffen (leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Curtis Deboy, Justin Schmitt, Chris Kamolins
Official crowd: 8758 at Blundstone Arena
