Attacking game style exposes North Melbourne’s defence

NORTH Melbourne is fun to watch. But it is even more fun to play against. SAM LANDSBERGER explains just how much an attacking approach is exposing the Roos at the other end.

NORTH Melbourne is fun to watch.

But the Kangaroos are even more fun to play against. Because what is unfolding at Arden St this season is a rebuild in reverse.

Slick, sexy offensive ball movement is the layer coach Brad Scott appears to have focused on first.

It is flair and dazzle over dour defence.

It us the opposite of Paul Roos’ methodical overhaul of Melbourne, Brendon Bolton’s Carlton “sponge” or ex-Western Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney’s contested-ball cornerstone.

And it is also leaving the Kangaroos wide open to be sliced apart.

The Kangas are leaking 101 points per game this season, their second-highest total in 15 years and 14 points more than last year.

That’s a big rise. Particularly when 2014-2016 were North’s stingiest seasons since 2003.

The scorching pace the Kangas can score at allowed them to fight back from 26 points down 14 minutes into the last quarter against the Western Bulldogs.

Inspired by workhorse Ben Cunnington, North surged by kicking 4.2 to no score in 14 scintillating minutes.

But the free gamestyle also cost them victory that night.

After playmaker Shaun Higgins’ snapped a behind out of a stoppage to tie the game, the Dogs went coast-to-coast in four kicks and Jake Stringer slotted the winning point deep in the final quarter.

Shaun Higgins slices through the middle against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

It was far too easy for Matthew Suckling, Jack Redpath and Lachie Hunter to whisk the ball to Stringer in 12 seconds.

A look at Champion Data’s measure of North’s ball movement this season would have filled Dogs fans with hope — and Kangas supporters with doubt — entering that frenetic final play.

Scott’s team ranks fourth for offensive ball movement. That means they are the No.4 team in the competition for successfully moving the footy from Point A to B.

But they rank 16th for defensive movement, when the opposition takes possession, perched 80 per cent below the AFL average.

There is nothing wrong with Scott’s rebuild approach. It is just different to what we have witnessed in previous seasons.

In Round 14 the Kangas conceded 15.17 (107) to the Dogs, the premier’s first triple-digit score since Round 5.

Jack Ziebell tries to chase down Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth.

On Saturday Gold Coast kicked 18.10 (118) in its 19-point victory against North, the Suns’ first triple-digit score since Round 7.

In Round 11 it was Richmond which kicked its sole triple-digit score since Round 4 against Brisbane, and even Carlton managed a season-best 15 goals against the Kangas, despite the Blues losing in Round 10.

Scott’s team sits near the bottom of every backline metric, despite playing in some of the season’s most pulsating games.

It is stuff out of the Matthew Knights handbook circa 2008-10.

Back then Knights’ Bombers kicked more than 100 points 27 times in three seasons, but instead of blowing sides away they often engaged in brazened shootouts.

Scott’s joeys are dangerous. They sliced the previously unbeaten Adelaide apart by kicking 22 goals in a stunning Round 7 victory.

They’ve unleased star kid Luke McDonald on to a wing this season and a rejuvenated Higgins has reached peak form.

The next step is to tighten the screws. If they can a ladder rise will come. If not it could be good Knights.

NORTH MELBOURNE’S DEFENCE

SCORING

Points against 101: (average), 16th (rank)

Opposition goals per inside 50m: 26.1 per cent, 14th

Points conceded from turnover: 58.5, 15th

Points conceded from stoppage: 38.4, 17th

BALL MOVEMENT

Opposition defensive 50m to inside 50m: 23.7 per cent, 17th

Points conceded from defensive 50m: 18.1 16th

Opposition halfback to inside 50m: 44.3 per cent, 16th

Points conceded from halfback: 20.1, 14th

Defensive ball movement: -80 per cent, 16th

NORTH MELBOURNE’S ATTACK

SCORING

Points for: 93.5, 7th

Goals per inside 50m: 25.4 per cent, 8th

Points from turnovers: 55.6, 8th

Points from stoppages: 34.6, 5th

BALL MOVEMENT

Defensive 50m to inside 50m: 21.3 per cent, 8th

Points from defensive 50m: 17.5, 5th

Halfback to inside 50m: 43.1 per cent, 6th

Points from half-back: 19.1, 6th

Offensive ball movement: +43 per cent, 4th

NORTH MELBOURNE POINTS CONCEDED

2003 101.1

2017 101

2010 100.4

2008 99.9

2006 98.5

2002 98.2

2005 97.1

2004 97.1

2011 94.6

2007 93.9

2009 91.6

2013 87.7

2016 87

2015 86.2

2014 81.6

Source: CHAMPION DATA