Source :- THE AGE NEWS
North Melbourne have made a promising start in what looks on paper to be their most winnable game in the run home. They’ve kicked five of the first six goals of the game for a 23-point lead.
They burnt a golden chance for another when Cooper Trembath passed off instead of taking a simple snap shot from next to the behind post.
North look ready to go, the Dogs look sloppy.
This game could slip away from them if they do not lift in a hurry.
George Wardlaw has had a horror year of recurring injuries and health concerns but he’s back in the side tonight and he’s taken the ball after a smother from Harry Sheezel, then snapped a goal.
Wardlaw hasn’t played since round 17 and his teammates mobbed him.
Huge moment for the Roos.
Roos 24, Dogs 7 with 10 mins to go in Q1.
“He’s involved in everything, Curtis,” David King said on Kayo Sports as Curtis set up Jy Simpkin who marked and kicked the Roos’ third goal.
I didn’t expect the Roos to be this aggressive early. Credit to them and let’s see if they can keep this up.
Roos 18, Dogs 7 with 11 mins to go in Q1.
The Roos got the ball moving quickly and they sent it long to Curtis in the goal square and he beat his man, found the bouncing footy and soccered it for a goal.
Socceroos star Awer Mabil announced he was heading home to the A-Leagues today (shameless plug for my own story) but Mabil would be rapt if he could strike a goal like that for Melbourne City.
But as I typed this, Matthew Kennedy came up with the footy and kicked a goal for the Dogs.
Poor exit from the Roos contributed to that goal. They can’t afford to be sloppy.
Roos 12, Dogs 7 with 13 mins to go in Q1.
There has been plenty of desperation early but a lack of quality in the kicking game.
Both clubs have made smothers and turnovers but the Roos have struck first.
Paul Curtis took a mark despite some painful contact from his defender.
Curtis then went back and kicked the goal. He’s got a strong body and a strong mind that fella.
Roos 6, Dogs 0 with 15 mins to go in Q1.
Alastair Clarkson hopes he is given the chance to lead North Melbourne to their next premiership, but says he will be content to ride off into the sunset if given the dreaded tap on the shoulder.
Clarkson is contracted until the end of 2027, but there are rumours bubbling he may not be afforded the chance to see out that deal.
Clarkson was peppered with questions about his future during a 21-minute press conference last Thursday.
The four-time Hawthorn premiership coach made it clear he is keen to stay at the helm of North Melbourne, but said he had given “pretty much zero” thought to any contract extension talks at this stage.
Bulldogs veteran Tom Liberatore has spoken about his battles with concussion on a day when head injuries and player care have been front of mind.
Liberatore told Seven that any talks about his playing future are on hold until the end of the season as he aimed to finish the year healthy and without any more head injuries.
“My main priority is to make sure I don’t have any more,” Liberatore told Seven pregame.
When asked if he was likely to be with the Bulldogs next season, this was Liberatore’s answer:
“That’s the discussion after that [he finishes the season healthy],” Liberatore told Seven.
“The main priority is my health and safety, making sure I look after my future after footy. Prioritise that and we’ll go from there.”
Roos coach Alastair Clarkson has painted a positive picture of skipper Nick Larkey’s goal-kicking woes.
Larkey has long been one of the game’s most accurate kicks for goal but he has struggled in the second half of this season.
“The pleasing part about him is that he is getting his shots,” Clarkson told Kayo Sports.
“Everybody has a time when it’s not working for you. This is probably the first time in his career that he is finding it a battle to find the big sticks, but he kicked a couple last week for us.
“His first one wasn’t impressive, but his next two were pretty good. The real pleasing part of his game is that he’s linking really well for us.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he isn’t concerned about his team’s six-day turnaround, but he is worried about fatigue from the club’s trip to Perth last round.
“We’ve had a bit of a break but they are coming off a five-day break, so you can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Beveridge told Kayo Sports.
“The six-day breaks don’t worry you as much but the Perth trip can be taxing.
“We didn’t come back in until Tuesday, there is an expectation that they followed a program at home on Monday and the boys were professional about that.”
The AFL says it did not approve an arrangement that meant a Geelong player with a history of concussion waived his legal responsibility for future on-field head trauma.
The Cats were forced to scrap the waiver on Thursday after the AFL Players Association condemned the deal between the club and the player.
The unnamed Geelong player signed the agreement acknowledging his elevated risk of concussion in 2024.
“The AFL and AFLPA are aware of a complex and unique case in which a Geelong player was cleared as fit to play following an assessment by an AFL Concussion Panel,” the league said in a statement.
