AFL news 2024: North Melbourne vs. Carlton match report, injuries and news

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson backed his troops to keep building belief after another gallant loss, this time to Carlton, while Harry McKay’s head knock has come under scrutiny.

Harry McKay of the Blues flies high. Picture: Mark Stewart

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson says the Kangaroos “will slowly build belief” from exposing themselves to matches similar to Sunday’s against Carlton.

The Roos posed an immense challenge to the second-placed Blues but ultimately fell 19 points short.

Carlton hit back with a seven-goal third quarter after Clarkson’s Roos took a lead into half time.

The four-time premiership coach is confident his side will be better for the defeat and will draw from the journey Brisbane took during its rebuild.

“Young sides grow from opportunities like that,” he said.

“We’ve got Geelong next week, premiers a couple of years ago, we just need to learn to work our way through games and it takes four quarters of footy.

“We dropped away for a period in the third quarter, a lot of that was to the credit of Carlton, they’re second on the ladder for a reason.

Alastair Clarkson said North Melbourne continued to build belief. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

“Our players will slowly build belief … Brisbane Lions knocked off Sydney because they’ve built the belief over seven years of being in these types of contests.

“We’re the youngest side in the competition and know the path we’re on, we just need to expose ourselves so we can gradually get better.”

Clarkson says the Roos’ biggest improvement is coming around contested possession and allowing them to remain in games for longer.

“We’ve become much more competitive and that’s allowed us to be in games for longer,” he said.

“We weren’t even in games in the first half of the year, outside of being in front of Fremantle in round 2, I don’t think we were in front at half time in any of the other games.

“At least we’re in contests now and against a good side like Carlton, that’s the pleasing part, that we were able to compete.

“What we need to grow is how we do it for longer.”

North Melbourne has winnable games on the run home, with Richmond and West Coast over the next month.

BLUES TO COUNT COST OF WIN

Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps tightened his grip on a second Brownlow Medal, with another dominant performance against a plucky North Melbourne on Sunday.

Cripps continued his hot form with 29 disposals, nine clearances, nine score involvements and seven tackles in the Blues’ 16.11 (107) to 14.4 (88) win over the Roos.

The Blues’ skipper took on a heavy workload in the first half in particular, as his side was challenged by an at times more skilful North Melbourne.

North Melbourne’s Luke Davies-Uniacke tried to go to Cripps in the first half but he was left relatively free at stoppages during the second half.

Charlie Curnow extended his Coleman Medal lead with four important goals.

Harry Sheezel was also tremendous with 33 disposals and two goals.

Harry McKay was sandwiched in a marking contest in the third quarter with contact to his head, and looked to be struggling.

Harry McKay of the Blues was helped to his feet after a heavy collision against North Melbourne. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Harry McKay was out COLD on the deck and absolutely no intervention from umpires or the doctors on the bench to get him off for an assessment?

Inexcusable. Disgraceful from all concerned. #AFLBluesNorthpic.twitter.com/1rcaq0bvqe

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) July 21, 2024

What is Harry McKay still doing out there? Play stops for the blood rule, should be no different for a head knock #AFLBluesNorth

— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) July 21, 2024

Any reason why Harry McKay is still on the ground right now?

Hit his head, stayed down…

— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) July 21, 2024

He spent six minutes on the ground and appeared groggy before spending a significant amount of time in the rooms ahead of the final change before coming back on in the last quarter.

However, McKay told FoxFooty post-game he had no issues with concussion and felt fine.

“I’m good, it was nice to get a 10-minute break there but I was fine, I think it was more precautionary and I’m feeling all good so it was all good,” McKay said.

“It’s not uncommon to get a few knocks to your shoulders and the back of your head but I was fine straight away, I kicked a goal straight afterwards so I don’t think I’d kick a goal if I didn’t feel great.”

The Blues will monitor Sam Durdin, Tom De Koning, Harry McKay and Sam Walsh on the five-day break after they all needed working repairs during the match, but coach Michael Voss said post-game that none of the injuries were serious.

McKay paid tribute to North Melbourne, who led at half time, and said he enjoyed watching Charlie Curnow kick a bag after his wayward effort last week.

“We knew it was going to be an arm wrestle and we won that,” he said.

“He’s been kicking pretty well and he works really well so it’s no surprise when he does that in a game.”

Luke Davies-Uniacke of the Kangaroos in action. Picture: Mark Stewart

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT SPOT?

North Melbourne coughed up two third-quarter goals from players slipping over in the exact same spot of the ground.

Jesse Motlop got on the end of an easy goal early in the term when Jackson Archer fell over and missed a mark before Colby McKercher fell again later to gift Charlie Curnow with his fourth.

Carlton made the most of the Roos’ slip-ups, kicking seven goals to three during the third quarter.

XERRI NULLIFIES TAPED-UP TOM

North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri gave the Roos midfield first use with a top performance against Carlton’s Tom De Koning.

De Koning started the match with a heavy amount of tape on his right leg before spending an extended period of time on the bench early with an ankle complaint.

Xerri capatilised on Harry McKay’s stint in the ruck and carried that on after De Koning returned.

Xerri went into the main break with 22 hit outs and a game-high nine clearances.

Patrick Cripps competes with Tristan Xerri in the ruck. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

A SECOND QUARTER SHOOTOUT

There were few wasted opportunities in the second term, with both the Blues and Roos putting on a clinic in front of goal.

The Roos fired off six straight goals while the Blues accompanied their four goals with just one minor score.

Carlton’s solitary behind off the boot to half time hit the post.

THE SWING MEN

Griffin Logue’s first match in over a year forced North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson to push improved defender Charlie Comben forward.

Comben started his career as a forward but moved into defence this season after Logue sustained an ACL injury in round 17 last year.

Logue played three VFL games before being called up for Sunday’s clash with the Blues.

Clarkson told Fox Footy pre-game that the Roos’ were searching for more flexibility.

“We’ll play at different stages both Charlie Comben and Griff Logue both forward and back,” he said.

“To get that swing-man type of flexibility but we’re hoping to build that over a period of time rather than just one day.”

Comben justified his move forward with three second-quarter goals while Logue had his hands full with Charlie Curnow all day.

Charlie Curnow and Griffin Logue grapple on Sunday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

CARLTON 4.1 7.2 14.7 16.11 (107)

NORTH MELBOURNE 3.1 9.1 12.2 14.4 (88)

GOALS:

Blues: Curnow 4, Motlop 3, Owies 3, Fogarty 2, McKay 2, O Hollands, Saad

Kangaroos: Comben 3, Curtis 3, Larkey 2, Sheezel 2, Scott, Hansen, Teakle, Shiels

BEST:

Blues: Cripps, Hewett, Walsh, Curnow

Kangaroos: Sheezel, Xerri, Davies-Uniacke

INJURIES:

Blues: Durdin (calf), De Koning (ankle). Kangaroos: nil.

40,014 at Marvel Stadium

TYLER LEWIS’ VOTES

3 P Cripps

2 H Sheezel

1 T Xerri

Originally published as AFL news 2024: North Melbourne vs. Carlton match report, injuries and news