North Melbourne smashes Carlton by 86 points in Hobart, Ben Brown bags five goals

Hometown hero Ben Brown has heaped more pressure on fellow Tasmanians Brendon Bolton and Liam Jones after a starring role in North Melbourne’s demolition of Carlton under the Blundstone Arena lights.

Ben Brown of the Kangaroos celebrates a goal.

HOME-town hero Ben Brown has heaped more pressure on fellow Tasmanians Brendon Bolton and Liam Jones after a starring role in North Melbourne’s demolition of Carlton under the Blundstone Arena lights.

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In conditions not generally conducive for big men, with showers falling and a fluky breeze in Hobart, Brown was irresistible in the first half with four goals as the Roos ran riot.

The cult hero finished with five majors as North ran away with an 18.8 (116) to 4.6 (30) victory, consigning the Blues to a 0-4 start to an AFL season for just the second time since 1989 and the first in Bolton’s tenure.

Carlton’s total was its lowest ever against the Roos, the lowest score at the venue and the 86-point margin was the second biggest at the ground.

Ben Brown dominated against Liam Jones.

Brown’s performance also continued Jones’ rough opening to 2018 after Gold Coast star Tom Lynch bagged eight goals on him in Round 2 and Collingwood’s small forwards feasted last Friday night.

Brown has 15 goals after the first four rounds to sit second for the Coleman Medal, two behind Sydney superstar Lance Franklin.

Despite being rocked by the withdrawal of Marc Murphy just minutes before the first bounce — the skipper aggravated his plantar fascia in the warm-up and was replaced by Nick Graham — Carlton hit the scoreboard first when Matthew Wright converted a set shot after receiving a free kick for a high tackle.

However, with Shaun Higgins and Trent Dumont lifting in the middle the Roos worked their way on top and kicked the last four goals of the term into the breeze, two of which came from Brown.

Brown had eight disposals (seven contested) in the first term, which was a quarter of what Carlton had in total as they were smashed 47-28 at the coalface.

Carlton’s night never recovered after Marc Murphy was injured in the warm-up.

The Blues kicked the first goal of the second stanza through Jarrod Garlett before the Roos piled on another five straight, one a banana from Brown in the forward pocket 30m out which ignited the crowd.

North’s fans had more to cheer about in the second half as it got even uglier for the battling Blues, with the Roos compiling a big percentage boost.

They kept the visitors goalless in the third term while adding a further five of their own, the highlight recruit Billy Hartung’s effort on the run from 35m after gathering the ball on the wing and taking two bounces before finishing.

Jarrad Waite was the perfect foil for Brown with three goals, with both Shaun Atley and skipper Jack Ziebell chiming in with three of their own.

Charlie Curnow and Jack Ziebell contest.

Higgins gathered a game high 35 possessions in a best-afield performance, 17 of which were contested to go with 11 clearances, while former Hawk Jed Anderson continued his improvement with a career-high 23 touches and a goal.

On a dirty night for the Blues Ed Curnow was by far the standout with 26 possessions, while Patrick Cripps battled through a hard Ben Jacobs tag to finish with 19 disposals.

NORTH MELBOURNE 4.5 9.6 14.7 18.8 (116)

CARLTON 1.0 3.3 3.4 4.6 (30)

BEST

Roos: Higgins, Brown, Anderson, Hartung, Cunnington, Tarrant.

Blues: Curnow, Cripps, Thomas, Kennedy.

GOALS

Roos: Brown 5, Waite 3, Atley 3, Ziebell 3, Anderson, Simpkin, Hartung, Higgins.

Blues: Garlett 2, Wright, Silvagni.

INJURIES

Blues: Murphy (left foot), replaced in selected team by Graham.

CROWD

14,266 at Blundstone Arena

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Originally published as North Melbourne smashes Carlton by 86 points in Hobart, Ben Brown bags five goals