In North Melbourne's loss against Port Adelaide in Round 8, a number of the opposition’s goals resulted from quick movement inside its defensive 50.
In North Melbourne's loss against Port Adelaide in Round 8, a number of the opposition’s goals resulted from quick movement inside its defensive 50. While Brisbane was still able to score with this method on Sunday, the pressure from the North midfield was much improved, as is shown in the following play.
The scenario: Quarter 2 - 8.20 remaining. North Melbourne leads by 40-points. Simon Black has the ball across half-back for Brisbane.
Black uses his opposite foot to switch the play out to Jonathan Brown on the opposite flank. At this point, the Lions’ captain looks up the field and sees a monumental amount of space in his team’s forward half, an area he would have otherwise occupied if he hadn’t pushed up to present.
It was at this point in the passage of play a week earlier where the Power were able to continue their ball movement relatively unopposed. In a sign there were lessons learned from that match, the Lions don’t enjoy the same luxury.
Daniel Wells recognises the danger and puts in a supreme effort to get across and cover the space. In a matter of seconds, he has single-handedly managed to cut off the option for Brown to go back into the centre with his possession.
However, Wells’ effort doesn't stop there. Brown's kick to the leading Daniel Rich falls just short of the target. Wells pounces on Rich and lays a tackle, but to just focus on his impact on the play would be doing a disservice to the rest of the North players around the contest.
Even if Rich was to take the mark cleanly, when he turned and faced his forward 50 he was met with a two-on-one, as Todd Goldstein tracked back to become a loose man in defence.
The rest of the North players who have converged on the contest also play their role. By forcing a pack around the fall of the ball, upon winning possession the Kangaroos have plenty of space on the attacking side to start their own counter.
The turnover is forced. In the meantime, Drew Petrie has the presence of mind to recognise the possibility of a key target being needed further afield. He drifts to a position a kick ahead of the play, about 70 metres out from the North Melbourne goal.
Levi Greenwood picks up the ball and shrugs yet another tackle, and as he looks ahead Petrie is indeed called upon and responds with a leading mark.
The co-vice captain immediately recognises that the space he just vacated must be free. Petrie quickly turns around and spots Aaron Edwards on the lead inside 50.
Edwards turns and finds Sam Wright, who goes back and kicks truly for one of his four goals. The play is a fine example of how defence can lead to a shot on goal in an instant.
The statistics don’t lie - North Melbourne’s attacking brand of football has paid dividends on the scoreboard, but is it proving counter-productive going the ot
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