It was tight until half-time, then North blew the Dogs away and secured a 50-point win. The media highlighted the best Roos on the day and unsurprisingly, Andrew Swallow featured prominently.

Mark Robinson – Herald Sun
“Watched him closely since his return from the achilles and he hasn’t been able to put together what I would say was a clinical Swallow performance. It came on Sunday against a team which likes coalface footy. Finished with 29, 11 tackles, 10 clearances and seven inside 50s and was clearly best afield.

Jay Clark – Herald Sun
“Led by evergreen veteran Brent Harvey and clearance machine Andrew Swallow, the Kangaroos slammed on four unanswered goals in the opening 10 minutes.”

Ben Brown was also singled out for his performance alongside Drew Petrie in the forward line.

Jay Clark – Herald Sun
“He’s been dubbed ‘Sideshow Bob’ for his long curls, but North Melbourne key forward Ben Brown might yet have to approach September like he’s the main man.”

Brown kicked two goals but set up many others and showed he belongs at the highest level.

“But as North Melbourne brushed aside the Western Bulldogs by 50 points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday to put down another down payment on a home ground first final, North might have found the man they have been looking for all season.

“The 200cm Tasmanian plucked out of obscurity with pick No. 47 in last year’s national draft produced the type of game that will build confidence among the North camp that not everything up forward hinges on Lindsay Thomas and Drew Petrie next month.”

AAP
“Ben Brown proved a handful while Wells, in his first game since round five, showed glimpses of his elite skills.”

Ben Cunnington’s fourth quarter blitz a major talking point.

AAP
“Instead Ben Cunnington kicked the last four goals of the game, including one after the siren, to close out a strong win.”

SPORTAL
“Ben Cunnington had an extraordinary last quarter kicking all four of his goals as the Bulldogs completely ran out of steam.”

North’s big win, all but stitching up a finals appearance.

Matt Windley – Herald Sun
“As the teams from 7-12 scrap for the last two spots in the eight, North Melbourne waits to find its elimination final opponent. The Roos will have to be on red alert this week for an Adelaide side that needs to win to keep its season alive.”

SPORTAL
“The Roos have now put eight points between themselves and the other final eight challengers with only one victory against either Adelaide or Melbourne needed to sew up a finals spot.”