AFL finals 2015: North Melbourne defeats Richmond by 17 points in elimination final at MCG

RICHMOND must endure finals heartbreak for another season after losing an elimination final thriller to North Melbourne at the MCG.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jarrad Waite of the Kangaroosis congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal during the First AFL Elimination Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 13, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

HISTORY suggests power forwards win finals and, ultimately, premierships.

They are the cornerstones of a team’s spine, the go-to men who must stand up on the big occasions.

Big men, often with big egos, who more than earn their money when it all clicks for them.

Men such as Jarrad Waite who made the North Melbourne recruiters look like geniuses on Sunday with an outstanding performance in the 17-point elimination final victory over Richmond at the MCG.

Waite did not buckle under pressure, he kicked four goals — the first three to keep the Kangaroos in touch after the Tigers threatened to run away with the contest in the first half.

And he had some willing allies, notably Drew Petrie whose two goals in as many minutes edged North ahead deep in the third quarter.

Waite, Petrie and Ben Brown contributed more than half of North’s goals.

If the Tigers had buried their finals jinx, Jack Riewoldt would have been their hero.

Riewoldt, too, enhanced his reputation with four goals. Alas, unlike Waite, he didn’t enjoy similar support from his tall forwards.

While Ty Vickery kicked two goals and always looked dangerous, the gamble of including an underdone Ben Griffiths failed — he was substituted in the third quarter after only four touches.

What made Riewoldt’s effort all the more remarkable was the poor supply of ball he received from Richmond’s midfield.

Only Dustin Martin was able to exert an influence on the contest with his rugged, running and rebounding.

Captain Trent Cotchin had a nightmare game with just nine possessions in front of 90,186 spectators.

Jarrad Waite starred with four goals in North Melbourne’s elimination final win over Richmond. Picture: Getty Images

North tagger Ben Jacobs studied videotape of Cotchin during the week with assistant coaches Darren Crocker and Leigh Tudor and development officer Jarred Moore to devise a strategy to curb the Richmond skipper’s impact.

“It’s what I’ve done all year. Get the No.1 onballer and try to nullify his influence. Everyone played their role and it showed on the scoreboard. It took four quarters to crack them, but we eventually did,’’ Jacobs said. “It’s a team role. Some times I have to come off him and help another bloke out and someone else has to take my man.

“He’s a quality player who’s obviously used to a tag every week. He hunts the ball so well and he’s good around the contest and they look to give him the ball. So, he’s a dangerous player.’’

Debate will rage in the wash-up about North’s decision to rest nine players for the final round. So, you can imagine how eager Lindsay Thomas, forced to sit for nearly three quarters in the sub’s green vest, was to impress.

Thomas was in the thick of the action as he pounced on a loose ball to snap the sealing goal. Alas, he might not make the trip north to tackle Sydney in Saturday’s semi-final.

He will come under match review panel scrutiny after he lashed out with his boot and caught Dylan Grimes in the chest as the pair grappled late in the third quarter.

With the contest in the balance late in the final term, Tiger forward Shane Edwards laid a tackle on Ben Cunnington only 20m out from goal.

The controlling umpire called play on and North worked the ball around the Members’ wing for Thomas to snap that sealer.

But, in the end, the value of those imposing tall forwards, particularly in September, was emphasised and highlighted inside the danger zone at both ends of the ground.

NORTH MELBOURNE 15.15 (105)

def

RICHMOND 14.4 (88)

GOALS

NORTH MELBOURNE: Waite 4, Harvey Petrie Brown 2, Macmillan Higgins Garner Nahas Thomas 1

RICHMOND: Riewoldt 4, Newman Vickery 2, Miles Deledio McIntosh Lambert Edwards Conca 1

BEST

NORTH MELBOURNE: Harvey, Jacobs, Hansen, Swallow, Goldstein, Macmillan, Ziebell

RICHMOND: Martin, Riewoldt, Rance, Miles, Houli, Deledio

VOTES

3. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)

The oldest man on the field ran the Tigers off their legs and he was still going strong on the final siren

2. Ben Jacobs (North Melbourne)

A disciplined and crucial stopper role that held Richmond captain Trent Cotchin to just nine touches

1. Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Fought valiantly to keep the Tigers in the contest with his bustling, fend-off style and telling rebound runs

Originally published as AFL finals 2015: North Melbourne defeats Richmond by 17 points in elimination final at MCG