North Melbourne have inflicted more on-field AFL pain on Essendon while keeping alive their own hopes of benefitting from the Bombers’ off-field woes.
The Kangaroos cruised to a 17.13 (115) to 9.16 (70) win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, blasting them away with six goals to two in the third quarter after a lacklustre first half by both sides.
Drew Petrie and Robbie Tarrant kicked three goals each and Daniel Wells four, while late inclusion Levi Greenwood amassed 38 disposals and five tackles.
The Bombers will play finals unless they are stripped of points over last year’s supplements saga, but they are limping home, with Saturday’s disappointing loss making it four straight by big margins.
The Kangaroos, who climbed to a 9-11 record, can’t catch eighth-placed Port Adelaide, but are only one win behind ninth-placed Carlton, with a much better percentage, so could still play finals if the Bombers are forced out.
While Wells had only 17 disposals, his line-breaking pace and classy kicking was a key for the Kangarooss, the highlight a four-bounce running goal in the third quarter.
Todd Goldstein dominated the ruck against Tom Bellchambers, showing up the absence of suspended Essendon big man Paddy Ryder, while the Bombers also missed suspended veteran defender Dustin Fletcher.
North’s Nathan Grima defended solidly and also moved forward to kick his first career goal, in his 72nd game, in the last quarter, to the delight of his teammates.
The Bombers won a fair amount of the ball in the midfield, with Jobe Watson and Brendon Goddard both high possession-winners, while Jake Melksham kicked three quality goals to go with his 19 touches.
But Essendon’s sloppy disposal let them down, the Bombers too often wasting attacking moves with inaccurate kicks into attack, or giving away cheap goals with bad turnovers.
In a further blow, Dyson Heppell was subbed off early in second quarter with what appeared to be a foot injury.
North Melbourne lost midfielder Jack Ziebell (ankle) and key defender Scott Thompson (soreness) before the game, while Leigh Adams was subbed off at the last change.
