AFL round 10 Richmond v North Melbourne: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Kangaroos’ four-point win

Cam Zurhaar had to grit his teeth to play a major part of the Roos’ first win in two months. And the mercurial forward has some teammates to thank for the unlikeliest of assists.

Cam Zurhaar had to grit his teeth through a dramatic case of “elephant foot” to produce the four-goal haul that helped secure North Melbourne’s first win in eight weeks.

The explosive forward was hailed for his mental strength after he faced Richmond on Sunday wearing boots two sizes above his usual fit after sustaining a nasty injury to his left foot in training.

North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin revealed on the ground after the four-point win that his teammate had burst an artery in his foot which had caused a build-up of fluid and severe swelling.

“He’s massive, and not many people would’ve known, but he came in with a fair injury today,” Simpkin said on Fox Footy.

“To even get up and play, let alone have such an impact on the game, just shows how tough he is and why we love him.”

Zurhaar told the Herald Sun that first-year key defender Matt Whitlock had come to his rescue with his size 15 boots after he decided to play following the training mishap.

The 189cm forward usually wears size 13s, but despite the extra room around his uninjured kicking foot, he still managed to kick 4.0 and have a direct hand in another when goals were at a premium in the tense clash.

“I hurt my foot Thursday, and it blew up, it was the size of an elephant,” Zurhaar said.

“I had to wear size 15 boots today ... some boys had them at the club, I had to borrow them – it was Matt Whitlock, so thanks to him.

Zurhaar came to the bench for treatment during the game, but swatted aside any concern over whether he would struggle to get up for Saturday night’s bumper clash against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.

Zurhaar toughed it out in the Roos’ win. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“It was just pain, to be honest. Function-wise I was good, it was just all pain,” he said.

‘’If I played today, I’ll be fine next week.”

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said it was an example to the entire Kangaroos list of the single-mindedness demanded at the senior level.

“His mental strength … he had an interrupted preparation with a bit of a virus and a sore foot that just grumbled along, but he was really important for us, particularly early,” Clarkson said.

“In a low-scoring game, to kick four goals, you’re pretty influential to the final outcome.

“Really pleased with his contribution, but it’s a really good example for all our players – sometimes you’ve got to play under a little bit of duress, and he just managed his mind really, really strongly today and made a contribution to the team that was pretty important for us.”

Zurhaar was the player thrown loose behind the ball in the dying stages as the Kangaroos desperately tried to make amends for their missed chances in the previous three games.

“The last couple of weeks we’ve been going over some things when we’re in close games and what we needed to do … it all comes back to training, and we executed well today,” he said.

UNLIKELY HERO’S MATCH-SAVING MARK VANQUISHES ROOS’ MCG HOODOO

- Ronny Lerner

A game-saving mark from North Melbourne defender Toby Pink has helped the Kangaroos finally break through for their second win of the season in a four-point thriller against Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.

With one last surge at victory, Tigers youngster Kaleb Smith sent a long ball deep into attack in the Tom Lynch direction, but with strength Pink bustled Lynch out of the way to take a strong grab with 40 seconds left.

It would prove to be the last meaningful foray by either side as the Kangaroos held on for a 12.6 (78) to 11.8 (74) victory.

Toby Pink with the HUGE intercept mark at the death for the Kangas

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But the Tigers were left to rue a controversial umpiring non-decision as North’s Luke Davies-Uniacke appeared to be very fortunate not to be penalised for deliberately sending the ball out of bounds with a handball in Richmond’s forward pocket with 1:28 to go. If the free kick was paid, it would’ve given Richmond a chance to re-take the lead.

After slipping behind at three-quarter time, the Tigers got their noses back in front early in the final quarter, but North hit back with the next two goals on the back of repeat forward 50s and opened up a 12-point lead.

The Kangas could’ve iced the game, but squandered shots on goal from George Wardlaw, Jy Simpkin and Jack Darling kept Richmond alive.

Tom Lynch cut the margin to six points shortly after, but it was then Richmond’s turn to be wasteful in front of goal with the game on the line as Kane McAuliffe and Tim Taranto sprayed their set shots to claw the Tigers within four points with 4:36 remaining. They would prove to be the last scores of the game.

North Melbourne’s biggest strength came to the fore as they smashed the Tigers in clearances 54-33 and centre clearances 14-4.

Cam Zurhaar kicked for four the Kangaroos. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Tristan Xerri was huge in the ruck for the Kangaroos with 19 possessions (13 contested), 52 hit-outs, 11 clearances (three centre), Luke Davies-Uniacke got better as the game wore on, finishing with 27 disposals (15 contested), seven clearances (three centre) and a goal, while Cam Zurhaar was a constant menace up forward, booting four majors.

Tim Taranto was Richmond’s best again with 30 touches (18 contested) and 10 clearances and Seth Campbell starred in attack with three goals from 15 disposals.

WARDLAW SETS IT UP

Young North bull George Wardlaw displayed his renowned appetite for the contest early in the final quarter when he bumped Nick Vlastuin off the ball on the boundary, kept it alive and handpassed it to Cam Zurhaar who kicked it onto Nick Larkey’s chest. Larkey finished off the play with a converted set shot to put North up by five points at a crucial stage.

LALOR SHOWS STRENGTH

Midway through the second term, No. 1 pick Sam Lalor added another magic moment to his highlight reel when he belied his 188cm of height to take a massive pack mark surrounded by four Kangaroos in the goalsquare before slotting the set shot to get Richmond back within six points.

RALPHSMITH RIPPER

Early in the second period, Hugo Ralphsmith submitted a goal-of-the-round contender when he collected the crumbs, broke a Colby McKercher tackle with strength and, after evading Luke McDonald and Aidan Corr, he dribbled it home magnificently from a very sharp angle in the pocket.

Hugo Ralphsmith dribbles a goal

HOT NORTH START

The Kangaroos booted five of the first six majors to lead by 24 points, with three of their first five goals coming from stoppage, as they won the first four centre clearances, and 13 of the first 19 clearances. It led to a territory domination that saw them lead the inside 50s 16-9, and helped the Kangaroos win their first opening quarter since Round 22 last year. Their quarter-time score of 6.0 (36) was their best in 11 months.

DRAFT RAMIFICATIONS

The result was North’s 17th win from their past 117 games and ended their nine-game losing streak at the MCG. Meanwhile, Richmond are now only half a game clear of the Kangaroos, which means their chances of snaring a bonus top-two pick this year have taken a hit after North gave the Tigers their first-round selection in a pick swap.

SCOREBOARD

RICHMOND 2.1, 6.2, 9.6, 11.8 (74)

NORTH MELB. 6.0, 7.1, 10.5, 12.6 (78)

RONNY LERNER’S BEST

Tigers: Taranto, Campbell, Hopper, Banks, Miller, Lalor, Nankervis.

Roos: Xerri, Zurhaar, Davies-Uniacke, Pink, Daniel, Powell, Darling.

GOALS

Tigers: Campbell 3, Lalor 2, McIntosh 2, Lynch 2, Sims, Ralphsmith.

Roos: Zurhaar 4, Larkey 2, Darling 2, Davies-Uniacke, Maley, McKercher, Konstanty.

UMPIRES Hosking, Bryce, Rebeschini, Fry

50,406 at the MCG

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

RONNY LERNER’S VOTES

3 Tristan Xerri (NM)

2 Tim Taranto (RICH)

1 Cam Zurhaar (NM)

Originally published as AFL round 10 Richmond v North Melbourne: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Kangaroos’ four-point win