The Tackle: Brent Harvey’s hit on Joel Selwood could hurt North Melbourne’s bid to beat Sydney
BLOODY Boomer, what have you done? Brent Harvey has once again put himself in a position to hurt North Melbourne. CHAT LIVE AT 11.30AM
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BLOODY Boomer, what have you done?
As if North Melbourne isn’t anxious enough in the week leading into its preliminary final against Sydney, Brent Harvey has once again put himself in a position to hurt the club.
Part of me says let him play because it’s a final, it’s Boomer and it looked so innocuous.
The other part says he’s a goner.
‘HARD TO SEE BOOMER PLAYING PRELIM’
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He jumped off the ground, he opened up Joel Selwood’s brow, Selwood left the field with blood streaming down his face and Selwood’s commentary at the time to the umpire — “Boomer f---ing jumped in me head” — said it all.
Day one of this week will be consumed by Harvey.
Wednesday will be consumed by match committee, and about who will play on the Bondi Billionaires.
And every day will be consumed by the popular theory that there’s no living chance North Melbourne can beat Sydney. Every day, in this newspaper, on TV and on radio, the Kangaroos will be told they cannot win.
This isn’t underdog status. It’s dead dog status.
It can’t concern the Kangaroos what others think, but it may be difficult to ignore. If you hear it so many times do you tend to believe it?
Or will the Kangaroos use it as motivation — if in fact they need any.
After all, this is a preliminary final and the spoils are well known. A win and it’s a Grand Final. A loss and you will be forgotten 10 minutes after the final siren.
On Friday night, the Kangas won their sixth straight game, which is the first time they have achieved such a run under the coaching of Brad Scott.
The self-belief must be brimming.
Save for Tom Hawkins’ devastating final 10 minutes, the Kangaroos played sparkling football.
Their team defence has improved considerably and their offence has weapons.
They run like a pack of wild dogs with the ball. Wells, Dal Santo, Gibson, Atley, Cunnington, Wright, Turner and Harvey get it and go, and Drew Petrie is getting on the end of it. His past four quarters and 10 minutes has been vintage Petrie. He took seven marks and kicked 4.4 against the Cats and remains North’s most vital forward.
Defender Nathan Grima said team defence will be needed to beat Sydney, and no truer words will be said all week. Still, the ball will go inside Sydney’s 50m and that’s where it gets interesting.
Hawkins got Grima and then Scott Thompson on Friday night, provoking commentary North is vulnerable at the back. Grima can’t play on Lance Franklin because ... because he just can’t. He will be needed for Kurt Tippett, meaning Thompson will stand Franklin.
Coach Brad Scott threw a curve ball when he said on Saturday Joel Tippett will be considered.
Joel is the younger brother of Kurt and has played just six AFL games. It would be a Kevin Sheedy type of selection. Put him in, play him on his brother, maybe get into his brother’s head. Don’t know if Scott is as bold, but clearly the coach needs to have plans A, B and C.
Next in the pecking order is Spud Firrito. If there’s no Joel Tippett, he will have to take Sam Reid, probably a bit of Adam Goodes, and possibly Mike Pyke if he rests forward.
For footy tragics, to be a bystander in the match committee meeting would be enthralling, and you’d have to think Joel Tippett’s magnet will be on and off the board countless times.
The same can’t be said of the meeting between Scott and Harvey if Harvey is suspended. Harvey will apologise, no doubt, but apologies would be wearing thin.
He missed the first final because of suspension and is likely to miss the preliminary final because of a needless, perhaps unlucky, but certainly a stupid off-the-ball hit.
The Roos may not beat Sydney with him playing, but it’s extremely challenging if he’s not.
See — it’s already started.
Originally published as The Tackle: Brent Harvey’s hit on Joel Selwood could hurt North Melbourne’s bid to beat Sydney
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