In this week’s edition of NMFC Playbook we take a look at how it unfolded from a stoppage inside the Kangaroos’ forward 50.
The play starts with each side’s structure at the stoppage. Both North and Port have two free men on the defensive side of the ball. In theory, the aim of this setup is to prevent a side from winning the ball and running it clear with minimal opposition.
In Round 2 against the Bulldogs, both sides set up similarly and it led to a congested first half with regular ball-ups. However, this time the result is different.
Nick Dal Santo shrugs off his opponent and jumps third man up at the stoppage. He punches the ball clear into space and the race is on to see who can get there first.
Ryan Bastinac is playing on Dom Cassisi, a player renowned for his work around the contested situation. On this occasion it’s Bastinac who gets the upper hand. He gets the inside running on the former Power captain and wins the ball.
Much like last week’s featured passage on NMFC Playbook, the Roo who wins the ball draws extra opposition numbers towards him.
Similarly in this case, Bastinac’s teammates have faith in him to win the ball cleanly and draw back from the pack slightly to give him multiple options.
A quick handball to Sam Gibson is flicked immediately on to Dal Santo. Here he has his second important play of the passage. A quick handball to Jacobs on the 50 metre line gives the left-footer a slither of space.
Recognising the oncoming pressure, Dal Santo lays a shepherd to give his team-mate more room to compose himself.
It’s all the number 5 needs against his old team, as he winds up from long-range to kick the goal and draw North back to within three points early in the final term.
Watch Ben Jacobs' goal
