NORTH Melbourne has snapped a two-game losing streak with a nailbiting 10-point win over West Coast at Blundstone Arena on Sunday afternoon.
In a see-sawing battle, the Roos squandered a three-goal quarter-time lead before clawing their way back in a tough third term and holding on in a gripping final term for a 13.7 (85) to 10.15 (75) win.
With his side ahead by six points at the final break, Drew Petrie opened with a goal following a big grab in the goalsquare before Eagle Shannon Hurn dribbled through a miraculous goal from 85m out. When Josh Kennedy marked and goaled shortly after the scores were tied.
Back-to-back goals to Jack Ziebell and Ben Brown saw the margin blow out to 12 points again before a brilliant goal from Sharrod Wellingham again pegged it back to six points.
Shaun Higgins’ running goal with less than three minutes remaining was the last of the match as the Roos claimed a vital win to stay in touch with the top eight, equal with ninth-placed Port Adelaide on wins.
Higgins was the hero with four goals while Andrew Swallow’s 13 tackles defined the Roos’ tough effort.
Eagle Kennedy, playing his 150th match, finished with three goals, while Andrew Gaff and Matt Priddis were prolific in the midfield.
The loss sees the Eagles fall a game behind the top two, now equal with fourth-placed GWS on wins.
More to come
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 5.4 9.6 13.7 (85)
WEST COAST 1.4 5.11 7.12 10.15 (75)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Higgins 4, Brown 3, Thomas, Gibson, Harvey, Goldstein, Petrie, Ziebell
West Coast: Kennedy 3, McInnes 2, Cripps, Duggan, Gaff, Hurn, Wellingham
BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Higgins, Goldstein, Harvey, Brown
West Coast: Priddis, Gaff, Yeo, Wellingham, Shuey
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Waite (TBC)
West Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Robin Nahas replaced by Ben Jacobs in the third quarter.
West Coast: Jackson Nelson replaced by Dom Sheed in the fourth quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Jordan Bannister, Ray Chamberlain, Scott Jeffrey
Official crowd: 12,011 at Blundstone Arena
