Ben Brown surges to the top of the Coleman Medal after bagging 10 goals against Port Adelaide
This game was between one team with finals on the line and another that kicked one goal last week. So of course North Melbourne destroyed Port Adelaide from the opening bounce.
If anyone doubted the theory that sport is played between the ears then they need to have a good look at this game.
Last week North Melbourne kicked one goal on their way to the lowest score in the club's history while Port Adelaide made it back-to-back wins to climb into the top eight.
So this match-up had a team with a live chance for finals coming up against a team whose season was over and spirit crushed.
That's the theory but the weird and wonderful happenings between the ears ensured that script was flipped.
North Melbourne were clearly smarting from last week’s humiliation while Port Adelaide were clearly thinking they were in for a nice easy evening at Marvel Stadium.
The result of this mindset was the Roos completely destroying Port, basically from the opening minute of the game to the last.
Twelve goals in the first half set up a 58-point margin which eventually stretched out to 86.
Ruckman Todd Goldstein was simply incredible but one of the best rucking performances of the year was overshadowed by a teammate.
ANALYSIS: PORT, CROWS IN FINALS FLOP FEST
Ben Brown stole the show with an extraordinary career-best 10 goals as North piled on 22 goals for the evening.
“I’ve never (done it before),” Brown said.
“I was actually a ruckman when I played junior footy and only transitioned forward when I came to Werribee in the VFL.
“It was easy being a forward out there tonight, the kind of ball movement from our mids was unbelievable.”
There were plenty of others who got in on the fun with young key forward Nick Larkey kicking five goals while captain Jack Ziebell (33 possessions) and Ben Cunnington (37 touches) embarrassed Port's midfield.
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COLEMAN ANYONE?
Those punters who were counting their winnings on Jeremy Cameron saluting in the Coleman Medal may never forgive Port Adelaide.
The GWS spearhead started the second last round six clear on 58 goals although the door was slightly ajar given he was set to miss with a corked hamstring.
Geelong's Tom Hawkins and Brown were equal second on 52.
After Hawkins failed to add to his tally against Brisbane, a golden opportunity was presented to Brown who accepted it gleefully.
At the 11-minute mark of the third quarter, the North Melbourne star was leading the Coleman.
Six first-half goals — including four in the second quarter — bridged the gap on Cameron and then it was party time with three in the third quarter bringing up a career-best nine which was the biggest bag by a Kangaroos since Wayne Carey back in 1999.
One more early in the final quarter saw Brown get to the magical double figures.
Brown has been close to the Coleman over the past two years, finishing four behind Jack Riewoldt last year with 61 goals.
SIGNATURE PLEASE
Timing is everything in a contract year and Goldstein is certainly doing a lot right to get a little bit more cash out of the Kangaroos.
His impressive year went to another level when he put up elite midfielder numbers while giving a pretty handy opponent in Paddy Ryder a spanking.
Goldstein led all comers on the stats sheet at quarter-time with 12 possessions which included four centre clearances, nine hit-outs and three inside 50s.
He finished with a career-best 34 possessions — 19 of those were contested — nine clearances, six centre clearances, 28 hit-outs and a goal.
New North Melbourne coach Rhys Shaw wants to see Goldstein’s signature on a new contract after his “amazing” game.
“His first quarter was unbelievable,” Shaw said.
“It was an amazing game, he stepped up and stepped up from the first bounce.
“He’s a North Melbourne man ... I would hope we (re-sign him), we’re in discussions with Todd.
“I’m pretty sure he hasn’t done any harm in terms of the contract.”
It's no wonder St Kilda have come knocking on the 31-year-old's door with a big three-year offer putting pressure on the Roos.
SHORT WAIT
It's still hard to believe North only kicked one goal against Geelong last week.
They made sure early doors that there wouldn't be a repeat with the Roos second goal coming nine minutes into the game through a set shot from Brown.
In fact the Roos kicked the opening three goals of the game before Port scored a major through Karl Amon at the 21-minute mark.
North's dominance was reflected on the disposals count which they led 137 to 78 at the first break.
This set the tone for a record-breaking night for the Roos who recorded the most touches in the club's history — 514.
SCOREBOARD
NORTH MELBOURNE 6.3 12.8 17.9 22.12 (144)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.1 3.4 7.6 8.10 (58)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 10, Larkey 5, Zurhaar, Goldstein, Polec, Garner, Ziebell, Higgins, Simpkin,
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 3, Amon 2, Ryder, Dixon, Rozee,
BEST
North Melbourne: Goldstein, Brown, Ziebell, Cunnington, Higgins, Pittard, Larkey, Simpkin
Port Adelaide: Boak, Amon, R Gray, Houston
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Paul Ahern (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Nathan Hrovat, Anderson (hamstring), Tarrant (ankle)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Williamson, Dore
Official crowd: 17,063 at Marvel Stadium
SCOTT GULLAN’S VOTES
3 — Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
2 — Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
1 — Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
Originally published as Ben Brown surges to the top of the Coleman Medal after bagging 10 goals against Port Adelaide