NORTH Melbourne overcame a spirited third quarter fightback by the Greater Western Sydney GIANTS to run out 129-point winners at Hobart's Blundstone Arena today.
In the first AFL match in Hobart, the Kangaroos won 28.15 (183) to the GIANTS 8.6 (54). Despite the loss, the young GIANTS team again showed plenty of promise with young gun Jeremy Cameron booting four goals up forward.
The vastly more experienced North side jumped its younger opponents, opening up a 43-point lead in windy conditions by quarter time. They extended the margin to 76 points at the main break as the GIANTS remained goalless.
When many other sides would have simply thrown in the towel, the GIANTS staged a courageous comeback in the third term, kicking six goals. Cameron showed his class up forward finishing with four goals for the match, including a long goal on the run.
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The GIANTS midfield led by co-captain Callan Ward began to work their way into the game in the third quarter. As well as kicking the GIANTS’ first goal of the match, Jonathan Giles fought hard in the ruck and finished with 26 hit-outs.
Chad Cornes was another stand out player for the GIANTS, and battled bravely in defense. Toby Greene and Devon Smith both showed promising signs for the future but in the end North was simply too strong, kicking eight goals to two in the last quarter.
GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy said that whilst his team’s performance in the first half of the match was disappointing, their ability to regroup and perform well in the third quarter showed some very promising signs for his young side in years to come.
“I think that not coming and playing the game straight out was a little bit frustrating but we’ll learn from that.
“Every time that these players go out on to the field they are going to get better and our job is to give them the confidence to do that.”
The GIANTS will play the ever first AFL premiership match against the West Coast Eagles at Blacktown International Sportspark next Sunday and Sheedy said it would be another challenge for his young side.
“We’ve got a big game coming up next week against the West Coast Eagles and I think that they’re a pretty good side.
“That will be the first ever AFL match in Blacktown so it would be great to see a big home crowd there.”
NORTH MELBOURNE 7.4 12.8 20.9 28.15 (183)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.3 0.4 6.6 8.6 (54)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Edwards 5, McIntosh 3, Harvey 2, Mullett 2, Goldstein 2, Bastinac 2, Petrie 2, Swallow, McMillan, Anthony, Cunnington, Wells, Wright, Anthony, Adams
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 4, Ward, Davis, Smith, Giles
BEST
North Melbourne: Bastinac, Adams, Anthony, Firrito, Wells, Edwards, McIntosh, Harvey
Greater Western Sydney: Cornes, Cameron, Giles, Greene, Smith
INJURIES
North Melbourne: TBC
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
Reports: TBC
Umpires: Rosebury, Ryan, Mitchell
Official crowd: 11,127 at Blundstone Arena
