Off-target Greater Western Sydney has stormed away late from North Melbourne for a 42-point win at a blustery Blundstone Oval in Hobart on Saturday afternoon.
In Jack Ziebell’s 150th match, the North captain won the toss and elected to kick with the aid of the wind, strong enough to be worth a couple of goals.
Braydon Preuss assumed the majority of the ruck duties, with Todd Goldstein playing predominantly forward.
The duo both hit the scoreboard in the first term, kicking a goal each.
The Giants had a massive 29 inside 50’s in the second quarter but couldn’t make that count on the scoreboard.
Ahead at every break, the Giants battled inaccuracy throughout the afternoon.
The talented Josh Kelly finished with 31 disposals and a goal, Callan Ward had 29 disposals and a goal, and Dylan Shiel had 27 disposals.
Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron booted three goals each as the top scorers for the Giants.
Steve Johnson's 500th goal made the 33-year-old the 55th player to rack up the milestone, but it didn't come smoothly.
Johnson's first chance came in the opening two minutes when a scrappy kick went askew for a minor score.
Then early in the third quarter the half-forward launched premature celebrations after a score was subsequently ruled to have come off his knee.
Just a minute later, from two metres out, Johnson made sure of his 500th goal.
It stretched the Giants' lead to 20 points from which the Roos didn't recover.
The result leaves the Kangaroos winless for the season, while the Giants are now 2-1.
The Roos were without tall forward Majak Daw who was a late withdrawal from the clash after suffering concussion at training during the week.
There were a couple of inspired performances for the Roos including Preuss, who finished his third game with two goals, 16 disposals and 26 hit-outs.
Ziebell recorded 28 disposals and a goal.
North now looks ahead to the historic Good Friday match against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in six days time.
Round 3 v GWS Giants
North Melbourne 3.2.20, 5.4.34, 8.6.54, 10.7.67
Greater Western Sydney 3.4.22, 6.11.47, 9.15.69, 15.19.109
Goals
North Melbourne: Preuss 2, Goldstein, Ziebell, Swallow, Brown, Dumont, Clarke, Garner, Turner
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Greene 3, Lobb 2, Reid 2, Johnson, Hopper, Kelly, Ward, Wilson
Best
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Hansen, Preuss, Mullett
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Ward, Cameron, Greene, Shiel
Injuries
North Melbourne: Daw (concussion) replaced in selected side by Clarke
Greater Western Sydney: Buntine replaced in selected side by Corr, Griffen (leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Curtis Deboy, Justin Schmitt, Chris Kamolins
Official crowd: 8758 at Blundstone Arena
