North Melbourne v GWS: Giants’ remarkable comeback falls short in dramatic draw, Shane Mumford escapes suspension
The MRO has handed down its penalty to GWS ruckman Shane Mumford regarding his rough conduct in the draw against North Melbourne.
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Physical Giants ruckman Shane Mumford has escaped with a $1000 fine after his playing-on-the-edge style came under review from Sunday’s draw with North Melbourne in Tasmania.
Mumford was charged with misconduct for a high tackle on North’s Tarryn Thomas after the whistle was blown.
He can accept a $1000 fine with an early plea and is clear to play against Carlton at Giants Stadium on Saturday night.
Match review officer Michael Christian also looked closely at an incident in which Mumford narrowly miss Jy Simpkin’s head with his right forearm as he fell to the ground.
No charge was laid in this case.
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The tackle on Thomas occurred in the second quarter after the young Roo gave away a routine in-the-back free kick to Tim Taranto before picking up the ball and attempting to break away.
Mumford charged at him, grabbed him around the neck, spun him, then effectively body-slammed him.
North Melbourne midfielder Ben Cunnington instantly remonstrated with Mumford as Thomas remained on the ground holding his head.
Fox Footy commentator and former Western Bulldogs star Brad Johnson’s instant reaction was of surprise that the umpire didn’t subsequently award Thomas a free kick.
“Not reversed? How is that not reversed?” Johnson said.
Former champion North Melbourne and Carlton ruckman Corey McKernan tweeted about Mumford’s crude tackle at the time, describing it as him putting “the sleeper hold on”.
Speaking to News Corp, McKernan said on Monday that Mumford “treads a super fine line”.
“As much as some of it doesn’t look good; it’s also what he’s there to do – provide a contest and be super physical,” McKernan said.
Hold fire Dan... Mummy just put the sleeper hold on and because the North player didn’t tap out it wasn’t a free. 😳 https://t.co/Ic4OYggmsW
— Corey McKernan (@CoreyMcKernan) June 13, 2021
The Simpkin incident happened later in the same quarter and again after play had stopped.
With an umpire standing nearby, Mumford fell over Simpkin, who had the ball, and his right forearm barely went over his rival’s head.
The 34-year-old was suspended three times previously on rough conduct charges and fined on various other charges.
“How is that not reversed?!†Big Mummy goes BANG 💥
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 13, 2021
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LATE MISS COSTS GIANTS IN DRAMATIC TASSIE DRAW
– James Bresnehan
In the space of three minutes tattooed Giant Daniel Lloyd went from hero to villain for both teams as Greater Western Sydney and North Melbourne played the first draw of the AFL season in a thriller at Blundstone Arena.
In the closing minutes, with North leading by 12 points, Lloyd cut loose for GWS.
He kicked two goals in two minutes to draw level with the Kangas and as both sides fought to score the points that would break the deadlock, up popped Lloyd again.
He had a shot to win the match with seconds on the clock, but it sailed out on the full and the deadlock remained.
Giants coach Leon Cameron said Lloyd’s final term was “dynamic”.
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“He looked like he was going to be the match winner — those sort of moments come along and clearly he would be sitting there thinking if only but we don’t want to sit in the if-only world,” Cameron said.
There was no song for either team and players were drained and unsure how to react.
“We played some good footy for three and a bit quarters but I reckon we let ourselves down a bit in the last quarter,” said North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell.
Oh my, Josh Kelly 🤯#AFLNorthGiants | #ColesGoalspic.twitter.com/pRtpZbH82L
— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2021
“They kicked some goals and played some pretty attacking footy and we didn’t response too well to that.
“That was one that got away.”
The first half of the round 13 match was gripping with the Kangaroos trying to pull away and the Giants battling to hang on.
A Ben Cunnington goal after the halftime siren put the Roos up by a goal and the scene was set for a continuation of the arm wrestle in the third.
The Kangas found another gear and kicked four in a row and held GWS goalless to lead by 28 at the final change.
The Giants came again in the last drilling the first three goals to cut the margin to 12 points, and then Lloyd put them on the edge of victory.
In the end, North Melbourne kicked its highest score of the season but had to settle for a draw.
Outstanding performances by hometown heroes Aaron Hall and Tarryn Thomas inspired North Melbourne.
Hall starred off halfback, mopping up GWS attacks and breaking the lines with confidence as he racked up 35 possessions while Thomas was brilliant in the middle and drilled two crucial goals.
Zip, zap, Zurhaaaaaarrrrr 🙌#AFLNorthGiantspic.twitter.com/lSOqfeXRJ3
— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2021
The Kangaroos bounded out of the blocks, racing to a 25-6 lead midway through the first term.
Big Roo Nick Larkey dominated in attack, taking three marks inside 50 and converting all of them, and at the other end Jeremy Finlayson kicked two brilliant running goals for GWS.
Soundly beaten at clearances and contested ball, the Giants turned the tide late in the quarter and the result was a second goal to Finlayson, and two more to Toby Greene and Callan Ward deep in time on.
North Melbourne’s lead was cut to six points at the first change and two goals early by Matt Flynn gave GWS hope of taking control but North used the ball brilliantly — short out of defence and penetrating the Giants’ press — to give forwards a chance to kick goals.
They kicked 7.6 from GWS turnovers while Giants onballer Josh Kelly all but inspired his men to victory with 39-possession masterclass and two goals.
SCOREBOARD
North Melbourne 5.1, 9.4, 13.7, 14.10 (94)
Greater Western Sydney 4.1, 8.4, 8.9, 14.10 (94)
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Hall, Cunnington, Zurhaar, Goldstein, Stephenson
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Haynes, Cumming, Taranto, Hopper, Flynn
VOTES
3 Josh Kelly GWS
2 Jy Simpkin NM
1 Aaron Hall NM
Originally published as North Melbourne v GWS: Giants’ remarkable comeback falls short in dramatic draw, Shane Mumford escapes suspension
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