North Melbourne gets the jump on a disappointing Gold Coast to win comfortably

Gold Coast was left to rue a slow start against North Melbourne, which was never in danger of losing in Jack Ziebell’s 200th game after booting the first seven goals of the match.

North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington shrugs off a tackle. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast has slumped to an eighth straight loss and been left counting the cost of the 26-point defeat with multiple injuries and the threat of suspension looming over midfielder Jack Martin.

The Suns were left to rue a poor first quarter where they conceded seven straight goals before eventually falling 14.15 (99) to 11.6 (72) in front of 9305 spectators at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

It didn’t get wet until after the third quarter but North Melbourne ensured it rained goals early on a gloomy evening for the Suns.

Gold Coast looked like a team in desperate need of a bye that still sits a fortnight away and the Kangaroos were the beneficiaries.

North Melbourne cruised out of the centre of the ground with ease and put it on a platter for the forwards who put the game out of reach from in the first term.

Jack Ziebell kicks a goal for the Kangaroos. Picture: AAP

The Suns were outnumbered in nearly every contest and slow in transition against a North Melbourne team that has delivered its third straight win and second under caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw.

North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell has praised unbeaten caretaker coach Rhyce Shaw for “galvanising” the team as he revealed Brad Scott is still a major influence on the Roos’ unlikely finals bid.

Ziebell finished with 29 disposals, 10 tackles, eight clearances and two goals in his 200th game as the Kangaroos moved to just a game and percentage outside the top eight.

“It was unfortunate that Brad left but it’s galvanised the group, we have to dig in a little bit now,” Ziebell told Fox Footy.

“We’ve made that block before the bye the big focus for us, we’ve got one more game next week against GWS who are going really well, so it will be a great test for us.”

North Melbourne had just 135 handballs against Gold Coast - the team’s fewest for the season as it adopts a kick-based game plan under Shaw.

The Roos also played on from just 12 per cent of marks, their lowest percentage of the season, and scored 68 points from their forward half.

“I can’t fault Shawy. It was pretty trying circumstances two weeks ago when Brad left,” Ziebell said.

“The majority of our list has had Brad for the better part of 10 years and he’s been embedded in the fabric of our footy club, and probably still will be for the rest of the year, to be honest.

“For Shawy to come in under those circumstances, he’s done a great job just keeping the boys together and really galvanising the group. I couldn’t speak highly enough of Rhyce Shaw, he’s been awesome.”

Gold Coast’s Jordan Murdoch limps off the ground with a suspected ankle injury. Picture: Getty Images

Gold Coast was able to equal North Melbourne throughout the rest of the game but its lack of scoring power meant it was all but game over.

The Kangaroos lost Shaun Higgins less than four minutes into the contest with the midfielder injuring his right AC joint while being tackled by Touk Miller.

Ziebell was forced off in the final moments of the second term after being caught high by Jack Martin but returned after halftime.

Ziebell was on his knees around the ball when Martin, put on report for the incident, came from the opposite direction, got hands on the ball first and caught Ziebell with his hip.

It didn’t stop the dominance of the travelling team who are now a win away from the top eight with a game to come next week against the in-form GWS Giants.

Adding to Gold Coast’s woes was the loss of defender Jordan Murdoch in the third term with a suspected ankle injury while Touk Miller, in his first game back from a heel injury, was left stationed deep in the forward line for nearly the entire game after copping a cork in the opening quarter.

Gold Coast have now lost eight games in a row and look to break the trend when they play St Kilda, who beat the Suns by a point in Round 1, next week in Townsville.

GOLD COAST 1.3 4.3 7.4 11.6 (72)

NORTH MELBOURNE 7.2 9.5 12.9 14.15 (99)

GOALS

Gold Coast: King 2, Powell, Swallow, Brodie, Sexton, Wright, Miller, Martin, Lukosius, Joyce

North Melbourne: Ziebell 2, Thomas 2, Turner 2, Wood 2, Brown 2, McDonald, Larkey, Zurhaar, Polec

BEST

Gold Coast: Harbrow, Brodie, Fiorini, Hombsch, Macpherson, Witts, Miles

North Melbourne: Cunnington, Ziebell, Polec, Turner, Wood, Brown, Dumont

INJURIES

Gold Coast: Murdoch (ankle), Burgess (leg),

North Melbourne: Higgins (shoulder)

Reports: Martin (Gold Coast) for rough conduct on Ziebell

Umpires: Haussen, Hosking, Harris, Mollison

Official crowd: 9305 at Metricon Stadium

VOTES

3. Ben Cunnington

2. Jack Ziebell

1. Jared Polec

Originally published as North Melbourne gets the jump on a disappointing Gold Coast to win comfortably