Roos finally explode in Hobart

Ben Cunnington tries to break free of Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes. Picture: Nikki Davis-jones Source: The Mercury

THEY'VE been a ticking bomb waiting to explode and in Hobart the Kangaroos detonated their gritty best against a white-hot Port Adelaide at Blundstone Arena.

With its second win from six games, North Melbourne finally got the monkey of its back and put its rickety wagon back on the rails with a close-run thing against Port, winning 14.9 (93) to 12.11 (83) in front of 10,265.

The Power, undefeated going into the match and with Ken Hinkley a stay-at-home coach due to illness, was unable to produce their best.

After watching a 28-point lead at three quarter-time sliced to 10, the Kangaroos were too exhausted to be jubilant about their victory.

Coach Brad Scott wasted no time turning his attention to next week's game against the Bulldogs at Etihad.

"You move on really quickly," Scott said.

"I've just been working out what flight I'm on to Perth tomorrow morning to watch West Coast and the Bulldogs.

North Melbourne skipper Andrew Swallow fights for the ball. Picture: Nikki Davis-jones Source: The Mercury

"But I was rapt for the boys. We were playing good footy but we weren't getting reward for that effort.

"We played a side that was five wins and no losses and feeling really good about themselves, and the boys played accordingly - they played really well and like a winning side.

"It's more relief for us that we got some reward for effort. Our fundamentals are sound, now it's time to get on our bike and consolidate this win."

North Melbourne established its authority early despite Port initially looking more dangerous.

Power pocket-rocket Jake Neade nailed the first goal at the three minute mark and missed an easier shot a minute later.

Port's Justin Westhoff snaps unsuccessfully for a goal Picture: Luke Bowden Source: The Mercury

North posted its first 10 minutes in but the game became a midfield chess match until the Kangaroos lit the fuse at the 18 minute mark when Drew Petrie kicked his first.

That pried open the flood gate and the Kangas went on a red-time rampage, kicking five goals in time-on.

They went into the first change 33 points up and Port's sluggish starts looked set to haunt them again.

Petrie's second in the opening minute of the second quarter put North 39 points up and Hinkley must have been tearing his hair out back in Adelaide.

He was on the phone with some "observations", which may have sparked a Power surge in the second term with Port, led by captain courageous Travis Boak, scoring 5.2 to 2.2 quarter to knock the deficit back to 15 points at the half.

Port's Alipate Carlile (front) marks over North's Drew Petrie Picture: Luke Bowden Source: The Mercury

The Kangaroos, who were able to shut down Port's run and carry, and stifle its switch, gave it a 28-point lead going into the last.

They needed it as Port came again, but this time could not match its 11-hour efforts that got it over the line against the Eagles a week earlier.

"It would have been absolutely pinching the game." said stand-in coach Alan Richardson.

"We got absolutely beaten across the day in the critical markers, but the boys have got a never say die attitude. Their spirit to want to compete and run was impressive and they certainly had that again today.

"We're disappointed with today but to be 5-1 at this stage of the year, we're really pleased with that."

The heavy free count - 38 to 15 in North's favour- was self-inflicted, Richardson said.

"From a coaching point of view it was frustrating. Not frustrated by the decisions, frustrated that we were a bit sloppy.

"It was reflective that we were second to the footy."
 

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