All the news, highlights and reaction to North Melbourne’s win over West Coast

It wasn’t pretty, but North Melbourne have their third win of the season after a final term fightback against West Coast in Bunbury.

North Melbourne kicked off its new three-year deal to play some home games in Western Australia with a thrilling win over West Coast on Sunday.

It wasn’t a great win, but it was an exciting finish, the Roos needing to kick the last four goals of the game for their 10-point win over the Eagles at Hands Oval in Bunbury.

Harry Sheezel and Luke Parker, who were noticeably quiet in the opening half, ran riot over the tired Eagles in the last term, with 22 disposals between them.

Jy Simpkin celebrates the sealer. Picture: Getty Images

West Coast did a lot right, with 22 more inside 50 entries than the Roos and 15 more tackles. But goal kicking hurt them, the final scoreline 9.8 (62) to 6.16 (52).

Having been blown away by Collingwood in the last quarter in their last game, the Pies kicking eight goals to the Roos one, North kicked four of the five fourth-term goals against the Eagles this week.

Roos coach Alastair Clarkson said he the club was more than happy to be the third AFL team that Western Australia clearly needs.

“We’re one from one in Bunbury,” he said.

“It was a home game, so it was special for us to win here.

“We hung in there. We hadn’t played anywhere near our best, getting used to the bounce of the ball, the size of the oval.

Cameron Zurhaar turns the game around! 🤩

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— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 8, 2025

“We need to make it work for us; it’s our home ground now for the next few years, at least.

“The facilities are outstanding, the surface is outstanding. We just didn’t adjust to it, for whatever reason.

“To have the opportunity to play some home games here, it has been such a fertile football state in terms of their passion for AFL footy.

“It seems for the state that two teams isn’t enough, so we’ve supplied them their third term and are happy to do so.

“With Tassie coming in, we had to find another base to provide us with a nice happy marriage.

“We get paid some money to play games here, but we love to come here, play and foster relationships with people in the South West.”

THE CAPTAIN'S GOAL! Taking them to 10 clear in the final minute! 🔥

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— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 8, 2025

FIRST HANDS ON

If the Kangaroos were going to pull of a win, it looked like ruck Tristan Xerri was going to carry them there.

And he did.

At half-time, they led by seven points, yet many Roos were struggling, including Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Parker, Cam Zurhaar and Nick Larkey.

But they led clearances 21-15 and Xerri led everyone with six.

The Roos big man is in the top four in the AFL for stoppage clearances, ahead of Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, Fremantle’s Caleb Serong, Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Gold Coast’s pair Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell.

Xerri still led the game in that stat, with six of his 10 clearances overall.

He also had six tackles, 22 touches and 37 hit outs.

KEPT QUIET

Larkey missed his chance to push up the Coleman Medal ladder.

He was 10th on the list before this game, with 24 goals, 14 goals behind leader, Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron.

He was kept goalless. well held by Eagles Harry Edwards.

Four of Larkey’s main rivals for the goalkicking honour have cashed in when playing the Eagles.

Cameron kicked five goals last week, while the Gold Coast’s Ben King (second)) booted six against them in round 1.

Greater Western Sydney’s Jesse Hogan bagged nine against the Eagles, while St Kilda’s Jack Higgins kicked five against them.

Jamie Elliott has to wait until round 16 before getting a chance against West Coast when Collingwood hosts them at Marvel Stadium.

While Hogan is in a terrific spot to claim a second Coleman Medal, getting a second chance against the Eagles in Round 17.

The Roos have moved to 16th on the ladder. Picture: Getty Images

THIRD WIN FOR ROOS

The win was North Melbourne’s third for the season, plus they drew against Brisbane.

That equals their best since Alastair Clarkson took over at the end of the 2022 season.

The Roos are now only one win away from equalling their best result since Brad Scott’s final year, 2019, when they won 10 games and missed the top eight by two goals.

In 2021, they had four wins and a draw.

Since the start of 2020, the Roos have won 18 games and drawn one.

Ten of those wins have been against three sides, five against the Eagles, three against Gold Coast and three against Richmond.

SCOREBOARD

NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 3.3 5.3 9.8 (62)

WEST COAST 0.5 1.8 5.14 6.16 (52)

BEST

Kangaroos: Xerri, Simpkin, Sheezel, McKercher, Powell, Curtis.

Eagles: Hewett, Edwards, Baker, Graham, Duggan, Maric.

GOALS

Kangaroos: Curtis 3, Zurhaar 2, Simpkin 2, Parker, O’Sullivan,

Eagles: Williams 2, Ryan, Hewett, Cole, Brockman.

INJURIES: Kangaroos: Comben (shoulder). Eagles: Hewett (ankle).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: BRAD ELBOROUGH’S VOTES

3 Tristian Xerri (NM)

2 Elijah Hewett (WCE)

1 Harry Edwards (WCE)

Originally published as All the news, highlights and reaction to North Melbourne’s win over West Coast