North Melbourne claim first win of 2017 after outlasting Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium
NORTH Melbourne broke through for its first win of the 2017 against Gold Coast but Suns superstar Gary Ablett stole the show with a vintage display.
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YOU wonder if Geelong coach Chris Scott cracked a smile as he sat on the sofa at home.
Perhaps Cats list boss Stephen Wells ordered a bottle of red, ready to be cracked open come this year’s trade period.
Like daylight savings, Gary Ablett wound back the clock at Etihad Stadium – chalking up 45 disposals and a career-best 18 clearances.
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As Scott’s twin brother Brad broke North Melbourne’s duck, the little champion stole the show.
It was an eclipse of the Suns and a fresh new dawn for the Kangaroos, witnessed by a poor crowd of 15,431 - North’s fifth-lowest at the ground.
Lovable Kangaroos forward Ben Brown was the catalyst for their breakthrough win, bagging a career-best six goals against the undersized Jack Leslie.
But Ablett deserved the spotlight.
Forget what the Cats say publicly, they want the dual Brownlow Medallist back next season – and are quietly confident they will orchestrate a romantic return.
Ablett and key forward Tom Lynch connect like Lego.
Imagine the little master replicating that partnership with Tom Hawkins, with Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield riding shotgun.
By possessions, Ablett’s 21st 40-disposal game was his best since Round 15, 2014.
By impact, it was in his dual Brownlow-winning bracket.
Those who wrote Ablett’s footy obituary after Round 2 must be scrambling for the shadows now.
Counting Ablett’s disposal tally threatened to usurp the main contest, until it evolved into a seesawing thriller in the second half.
At halftime Ablett had 22. Five minutes into the third quarter it was 28, as a 30m soccer kick found Lynch’s chest and set up Brandon Matera’s second goal.
Since 2009 Ablett is averaging 35 disposals and has kicked 18 goals in eight matches against North Melbourne.
He’s also won 12 Brownlow votes, likely to be 15 when Saturday night’s envelope is opened.
A devastating 50m bullet pass to Matera in the first quarter set up a goal, as did a chip to Tom Lynch in the second.
The Lynch assist came after outmarking Lachie Hansen and Robbie Tarrant overhead at half-forward, while a Gazza centre clearance also set up new skipper Lynch’s first major.
Matthew Lloyd questioned the impact of Ablett’s disposals in the first half, but it seemed a harsh assessment given the scoreboard translation.
Ablett had bettered his personal clearance record by the final change and his defensive running and chasing would have pleased Rodney Eade.
It was a game of Russian roulette, both teams treating the corridor as king but coming undone with basic skill errors.
Ben Cunnington’s 150th was one to forget, the toughnut registering a game-low five disposals, but recruit Nathan Hrovat played one of his best.
Hrovat converted two first-half free kicks into goals and collected 22 disposals.
Lynch loves Etihad, and his set-shot routing had former goalkicker Nathan Brown pondering if any player strikes the ball cleaner than the Suns skipper.
The star from Sorrento finished with 3.1
There were sprouts of growth for the Roos sprinkled throughout.
A blistering run by Taylor Garner where he took multiple bounces and then had the composure to steady and find Kayne Turner led to a goal.
Swung forward, Lachie Hansen kicked his first goal in three years to push North 20 points clear in the third quarter.
It was the Roos’ fifth-straight major but the lead quickly eroded as Ablett somehow produced another dominant burst.
With star defenders Steven May and Rory Thompson injured, Brown was unstoppable in the final quarter.
And after three heartbreaking losses and a penchant for poor last quarters, it was finally North’s night.
VOTES
3. Gary Ablett
2. Ben Brown
1. Shaun Higgins
BEST:
NORTH MELBOURNE: B.Brown, S.Higgins, J.Ziebell, N.Hrovat, T.Garner, T.Dumont
GOLD COAST: G.Ablett, A.Sexton, J.Harbrow, T.Miller, J.Lyons, T.Lynch
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