That winning feeling:Cameron Zurhaar celebrates.Credit:Getty Images
Hardwick said the Tigers still had time to rebound with five games remaining - but they clearly have work to do.
“Our system itself held up,60-odd inside 50s,30-odd scoring shots - we just didn’t execute,” he said. “It was not as if they were hard shots on goal. We kicked 1.9 from inside 30. We are paid to kick goals. We didn’t. That’s the reality of it.”
Utility Josh Gibcus (heel) was subbed off and is in doubt for the Dockers’ clash.
North release shackles to claim emotional win
North Melbourne released the shackles of a tortuous 2022 campaign and inflicted major damage on Richmond’s top-four hopes.
After a week when coach David Noble was terminated,and Leigh Adams installed as caretaker,the Kangaroos celebrated just their second win of the season and ended a 14-game losing streak.
The eighth-placed Tigers had a chance to advance a game clear of the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda in ninth and tenth places respectively,but now find themselves in a major fight to even make the finals,for they face Fremantle (Marvel Stadium) and Brisbane Lions (MCG) over the next fortnight.
The defeat,coming after last week’s fade out against Gold Coast,was compounded by having co-captain Toby Nankervis on report for a knee to the head of Flynn Perez in the first term.
Adams made positional changes,including sending the much-maligned Jaidyn Stephenson to half-back,and this helped the Kangaroos to a 32-point lead by the main break.
Toby Nankervis and jack Riewoldt after the loss to North Melbourne.Credit:Getty Images
Forward Cam Zurhaar,who had Dylan Grimes as his initial opponent,booted a career-high six goals,including five to half-time - each with a typically boisterous celebration. He saved the best for last when,with his side trailing by two points with just over two minutes remaining,he sliced through a snap from the pocket to regain the lead for good.
Tigers’ forward Jake Aarts could have taken a set shot with under a minute remaining but opted to play on,the Tigers then squandering their last hope.
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Jy Simpkin,with 34 touches,later dedicated the win to Noble,while Luke Davies-Uniake and Jed Anderson also found plenty of the ball. Stephenson,with 23 touches and 835 metres gained,was superb.
The Tigers were led by former skipper Trent Cotchin and robust midfielder Dion Prestia but paid the price for their horrible kicking for goal. Jack Riewoldt finished with 2.6,including squandering two regulation attempts in the final term.
Trailing by five goals,the Tigers pressed with the opening two goals of the third term,including a touching moment when Daniel Rioli converted,kissed his biceps and looked to the heavens in a tribute after the passing of Willie Rioli senior.
The Kangaroos,though,weren’t done. Paul Curtis and Simpkin responded,before Riewoldt discovered his kicking boots with two long bombs. When Noah Balta delivered from 55m after the siren,the Tigers were suddenly within 10 points at the final change.
Nankervis was particularly influential in the ruck and around the ground against Todd Goldstein.
The Kangaroos faded against Collingwood last week,and now faced another challenge. The Tigers closed to within four points within 20 seconds of the opening bounce,but Goldstein responded with a bomb of his own. The Tigers kept pressing and had their first lead since the 24-minute mark of the first term when Jack Graham converted from 35m. But the Kangaroos weren’t done,Zurhaar delivering the fatal blow.
New look
Stephenson has had a poor season up forward but was given a fresh challenge by Adams when sent to defence.
He spent considerable time on Jack Graham but made his presence felt in the first term with a 50m goal. Could he reinvent his career as a rebounding half-back?
Phoenix rising
The confrontational Tigers have long conceded too many free kicks,frustrating coach Damien Hardwick. Prestia paid the price in the first tern when his unwillingness to hand the ball back to the Kangaroos resulted in a 50m penalty. A quick kick inside 50 resulted in Phoenix Spicer snapping successfully just as the siren sounded,giving the Roos a seven-edge at the first change despite trailing 16-7 in side 50s.
MRP scrutiny
Ben McKay was stoic in defence but is likely to come under match review scrutiny for a late,airborne bump into the back of Shai Bolton in the second term. Bolton was awarded a 50m penalty.
NORTH MELBOURNE4.0 10.2 12.2 14.8 (92)
RICHMOND2.5 3.12 8.16 11.22 (88)
GOALS
North Melb: Zurhaar 6,Curtis 3,Scott,Young,Goldstein,Simpkin,Stephenson.
Richmond: Cumberland 3,Riewoldt 2,Balta,Baker,Graham,Short,Rioli,Miller.
BEST
North Melb: Simpkin,Anderson,Stephenson,Zurhaar,Davies-Uniake,McKay.
Richmond: Cotchin,Prestia,Nankervis,Short,Cumberland.
INJURIES
North Melb: Larkey (heel).
Richmond: Gibcus (shoulder).
CROWD – 22,666 at Marvel Stadium.