North Melbourne continues winning run under Rhyce Shaw and eyes possible top eight berth

Rhyce Shaw says he hasn’t thought about it. But after his fourth win from five starts in charge — and with the Kangas now eyeing September — the caretaker coach is firming for the full-time role. SEE WHAT THE COACHES SAID

How easy’s this? Rhyce Shaw must be loving life in charge at the Roos. Pic: Getty Images

A blistering opening quarter has propelled North Melbourne to the brink of the top eight as the club’s incredible revival under interim coach Rhyce Shaw continued in Hobart.

The Roos blew their contest against St Kilda apart with a stunning first 30 minutes at Blundstone Arena, piling on a season high 7.5 to set up an eventual 17.10 (112) to 11.7 (73) victory — their fourth in five matches since Shaw took the reins from Brad Scott.

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Cameron Zurhaar and Nick Larkey cashed in on North’s dominance in the middle of the ground, which allowed the hosts to open up a 40-point gap at the first break.

Todd Goldstein gave emerging Saints big man Rowan Marshall a lesson in the ruck in the early stampede, having more hit-outs to advantage (six) than the Saints had in total (four), which helped give the on-ballers a 13-5 advantage at the clearances.

Backing up from his breakout match last weekend Jy Simpkin had a big opening term, gathering six contested possessions, three clearances, three score involvements and kicking the opening goal as the Roos pumped the ball inside their arc 21 times to seven.

Larkey’s third goal, two minutes into the second term, left the Saints and embattled coach Alan Richardson facing a blowout, but the visitors fought their way into the contest on the back of forward Josh Bruce.

With Marshall finding his feet in the battle with Goldstein, St Kilda’s on-ball brigade was able to square proceedings at the coalface, while Bruce kicked three majors in a dominant second term which was highlighted by some strong contested marking.

Kangas skipper Jack Ziebell was ferocious at the contest. Pic: AAP

The Saints kicked four straight goals to help cut the gap to 27 at the main break, and when Marshall bounced through a snap inside the first minute of the second half from a boundary throw-in, and Jade Gresham was front and centre to follow suit from a marking contest shortly after, the margin had been whittled to just 15 points.

A costly 50m penalty from Callum Wilkie for entering the protected zone allowed the Roos to steady via Paul Ahern, before Zurhaar and Ben Brown restored breathing space.

A brilliant banana from 30m from Zurhaar — equalling his career-high of five goals — early in the last stanza put the game beyond doubt as the Roos moved to within four points of seventh spot on the ladder while consigning the Saints to a third straight defeat.

Josh Bruce provided a great target for the Saints. Pic: Getty Images

Simpkin finished with 36 touches (21 contested) and nine clearances in another standout performance, while skipper Jack Ziebell again led from the front with two goals from his 24 disposals.

Bruce kicked six straight in a lone hand up forward for the Saints, Jack Billings had 35 possessions while Jack Steele clamped down on Ben Cunnington and applied a mammoth 18 tackles.

Both sides finished a man down on the bench, with St Kilda losing defender Josh Battle (adductor) in the opening minutes and Mason Wood (quad) put on ice midway through the third quarter.

Cameron Zurhaar was one of two Kangas to kick five goals. Pic: Getty Images

NORTH MELBOURNE 7.5 10.6 13.7 17.10 (112) def ST KILDA 1.1 6.3 8.5 11.7 (73)

Goals: North Melbourne: C Zurhaar 5 N Larkey 5 B Brown 3 J Ziebell 2 J Simpkin P Ahern

St Kilda: J Bruce 6 T Membrey 2 J Gresham N Hind R Marshall

Adam Smith’s Best: NM: Simpkin, Ziebell, Goldstein, Zurhaar, Thompson, Larkey

St Kilda: Bruce, Steele, Billings, Marshall, Dunstan, Carlisle

Umpires: Sam Hay, Nicholas Foot, Hayden Gavine

Official Crowd: 10,696 at Blundstone Arena

ADAM SMITH’S VOTES:

3 — Jy Simpkin (NM)

2 — Jack Ziebell (NM)

1 — Todd Goldstein (NM)

Rhyce Shaw talks about potentially getting the senior coaching job at the end of the year.#AFLNorthSaints pic.twitter.com/4thcZn8Hwf

— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 7, 2019

SHAW: WE’RE FOCUSED ON THE NEXT CHALLENGE

North Melbourne has surged to within touching distance of the top eight but interim coach Rhyce Shaw refuses to look beyond what awaits next week for his high flying Roos.

Since taking the reins from Brad Scott after round 10, Shaw has guided the club to a 5-1 record as it now sits four points behind seventh placed Adelaide ahead of next Saturday’s blockbuster against Essendon.

Sunday’s 39-point victory against St Kilda — set up by a blistering opening quarter where they piled on 7.5 to 1.1 — was spearheaded by the club’s next crop of stars, with Jy Simpkin (36 disposals, 21 contested and nine clearances) again starring in the middle, while forwards Cameron Zurhaar and Nick Larkey kicked five goals apiece.

However while the groundswell of momentum continues Shaw, who continues to firm as the next full time coach of the club, won’t let his focus shift from the immediate task at hand.

“It’s really tight, you can see all the other teams are fighting for those spots and as I’ve said before we are just focused on that next challenge and that’s all we can do as a football club,” Shaw said.

“I’m a big believer in that, making sure our players do their job, Monday to Friday we take care of what we can take care over and then on the weekend trying to execute a plan.

“I haven’t really thought about it [the coaching position], I’ve just thought week to week and that’s all I can do.

“We just have to take care of what’s in front of us right now.”

Shaw was full of praise for his emerging talent, who have taken the burden off captain Jack Ziebell, midfield bull Ben Cunnington and key forward Ben Brown.

“Larks has kicked five, that puts him halfway to a Rising Star (nomination) I think but I am really proud of those guys, we are seeing contributions all across the field now.

“I think we are playing a really even brand of football. Larks did it today, Zurhaar has kicked five, Benny Brown has kicked three and Browny is doing a lot of work up the ground at stages and allowing those guys to succeed.

“The guys are playing for each other.”

RICHARDSON: I EXPECTED A STRONGER PERFORMANCE

Six of the best by St Kilda bigman Josh Bruce was a beacon on another dark day for the Saints in their 39-point loss to North Melbourne in Hobart.

Bruce kicked more than half of St Kilda’s 11 goals and North Melbourne used their best big men Scott Thompson and Robbie Tarrant in a failed attempt to stop him.

It was hailed as his breakout game of 2019 and the man of many haircuts dominated inside forward 50m and pinch-hit in the ruck. Of his 17 touches, 15 were contested, and all seven of his marks were also contested.

Alan Richardson’s position is under pressure. Pic: Getty Images

“He’s kicked six before in a game before but that was certainly his best game of the year,” said Saints coach Alan Richardson.

“He was good, especially in the first half. He kept us in it, really.

“He didn’t stop working. His ability to launch at the ball against North’s really experienced back group led by Thompson and Tarrant was terrific.

“He did a really good job for us.”

Richardson rued St Kilda’s sub-par “physicality”.

The exception was human bear trap Jack Steele.

“Steeley was outstanding,” Richardson said.

“He’s had over 100 pressure points and laid 18 tackles, which is a record for our footy club.

“He copped a bit of attention off the ball and just kept going. He’s made of the right stuff, Steeley, he needs a few mates to come along with him.”

The Saints prepared for a hard, body-on-body contest, but were left wanting.

“My expectations coming here, knowing the Kangaroos are in pretty good form having beaten the Pies, and the way that we trained during the week, I expected this group to put up a much stronger performance,” Richardson said.

It does not get any easier next weekend when they meet Geelong at the Cattery.

“We need to make sure we are really strong at the start,” Richardson said.

“Geelong have had an incredible year. They’ve had a couple of losses. We know how hard they are to beat on their home deck but it will be much more about us and how disappointed we were in the physicality stakes. We got shown up, so that’s what we will be looking for next week.”

— James Bresnehan