By James Dampney
NORTH Melbourne prepared for its first finals campaign since 2008 with a hard-fought 28-point victory over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, but likely fell short in its bid for seventh place on the ladder.
The Kangaroos came into the game 0.78 per cent behind Fremantle in the battle for seventh, but the latter was hosting lowly Melbourne later on Saturday night at Patersons Stadium.
Second-quarter substitute Kieran Harper kicked four goals in the Roos' 16.9 (105) to 11.11 (77) triumph, while Scott Thompson (39 disposals) was immense in defence and Ben Cunnington, Ryan Bastinac and Sam Gibson found plenty of the ball.
GWS ruckman Jonathan Giles capped an excellent first season with three goals, matched by Rhys Palmer, with ball magnet Toby Greene picking up 38 possessions and Israel Folau showing some vastly improved signs.
North never found top gear against the first-year Giants and will need to improve next week, but the visitors did enough to record their 14th win for the season.
GWS has had a habit all season of at least starting well and that was the case again on Saturday, kicking 2.3 to the Kangaroos' one behind over the opening 18 minutes.
North Melbourne eventually broke out of its funk and kicked the next three goals, but a late bouncing effort from Greene ensured GWS won an opening term for just the fourth time this year.
Trailing by one point - and down on all the key indicators - entering the second quarter, the Roos needed to lift their work-rate significantly.
Fresh from signing his one-year contract extension, Brent Harvey got things rolling for the visitors, kicking the opening goal of the term, but the Giants weren't done with yet.
Folau, who was on the receiving end of some intense criticism for his performance last time out against Melbourne in round 21, was putting in a far better effort in his return to the side.
Showing some welcome urgency around the contest, Folau took a contested mark inside the forward 50m and kicked just his second career goal nine minutes into the quarter to put GWS back in front.
He also kicked a behind to end the term, but in between the Roos managed 3.2 to take a 17-point lead into half-time.
That lead had extended to 27 points leading into the final term, but the expected North Melbourne avalanche never really appeared, with GWS ending its debut season in impressive fashion.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.3 4.5 7.8 11.11 (77)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 7.4 12.5 16.9 (105)
BEST
North Melbourne: Thompson, Harper, Gibson, Mullett, Bastinac, Cunnington
Greater Western Sydney: Giles, Greene, Palmer, Ward, Treloar, Tyson
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Lachlan Hansen (blurred vision)
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Kieran Harper replaced Lachlan Hansen in the second quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Devon Smith replaced Chad Cornes in the third quarter
Reports: TBC
Umpires: Fila, Wenn, Ryan
Official crowd: 6,696 at Skoda Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
