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The one true King of the North
- Apr 24, 2013
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Attacking game style exposes North Melbourne’s defence
July 4, 2017 8:50pm
SAM LANDSBERGER
NORTH Melbourne is fun to watch. But the Kangaroos are even more fun to play against. Because what is unfolding at Arden St this season is a rebuild in reverse. Slick, sexy offensive ball movement is the layer coach Brad Scott appears to have focused on first.
It is flair and dazzle over dour defence. It us the opposite of Paul Roos’ methodical overhaul of Melbourne, Brendon Bolton’s Carlton “sponge” or ex-Western Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney’s contested-ball cornerstone. And it is also leaving the Kangaroos wide open to be sliced apart.
The Kangas are leaking 101 points per game this season, their second-highest total in 15 years and 14 points more than last year. That’s a big rise. Particularly when 2014-2016 were North’s stingiest seasons since 2003. The scorching pace the Kangas can score at allowed them to fight back from 26 points down 14 minutes into the last quarter against the Western Bulldogs. Inspired by workhorse Ben Cunnington, North surged by kicking 4.2 to no score in 14 scintillating minutes. But the free gamestyle also cost them victory that night. After playmaker Shaun Higgins’ snapped a behind out of a stoppage to tie the game, the Dogs went coast-to-coast in four kicks and Jake Stringer slotted the winning point deep in the final quarter. It was far too easy for Matthew Suckling, Jack Redpath and Lachie Hunter to whisk the ball to Stringer in 12 seconds.
A look at Champion Data’s measure of North’s ball movement this season would have filled Dogs fans with hope — and Kangas supporters with doubt — entering that frenetic final play. Scott’s team ranks fourth for offensive ball movement. That means they are the No.4 team in the competition for successfully moving the footy from Point A to B. But they rank 16th for defensive movement, when the opposition takes possession, perched 80 per cent below the AFL average.
There is nothing wrong with Scott’s rebuild approach. It is just different to what we have witnessed in previous seasons. In Round 14 the Kangas conceded 15.17 (107) to the Dogs, the premier’s first triple-digit score since Round 5. On Saturday Gold Coast kicked 18.10 (118) in its 19-point victory against North, the Suns’ first triple-digit score since Round 7. In Round 11 it was Richmond which kicked its sole triple-digit score since Round 4 against Brisbane, and even Carlton managed a season-best 15 goals against the Kangas, despite the Blues losing in Round 10.
Scott’s team sits near the bottom of every backline metric, despite playing in some of the season’s most pulsating games. It is stuff out of the Matthew Knights handbook circa 2008-10. Back then Knights’ Bombers kicked more than 100 points 27 times in three seasons, but instead of blowing sides away they often engaged in brazened shootouts.
Scott’s joeys are dangerous. They sliced the previously unbeaten Adelaide apart by kicking 22 goals in a stunning Round 7 victory. They’ve unleashed star kid Luke McDonald on to a wing this season and a rejuvenated Higgins has reached peak form. The next step is to tighten the screws. If they can a ladder rise will come. If not it could be good Knights.
NORTH MELBOURNE’S DEFENCE
SCORING
Points against 101: (average), 16th (rank)
Opposition goals per inside 50m: 26.1 per cent, 14th
Points conceded from turnover: 58.5, 15th
Points conceded from stoppage: 38.4, 17th
BALL MOVEMENT
Opposition defensive 50m to inside 50m: 23.7 per cent, 17th
Points conceded from defensive 50m: 18.1 16th
Opposition halfback to inside 50m: 44.3 per cent, 16th
Points conceded from halfback: 20.1, 14th
Defensive ball movement: -80 per cent, 16th
NORTH MELBOURNE’S ATTACK
SCORING
Points for: 93.5, 7th
Goals per inside 50m: 25.4 per cent, 8th
Points from turnovers: 55.6, 8th
Points from stoppages: 34.6, 5th
BALL MOVEMENT
Defensive 50m to inside 50m: 21.3 per cent, 8th
Points from defensive 50m: 17.5, 5th
Halfback to inside 50m: 43.1 per cent, 6th
Points from half-back: 19.1, 6th
Offensive ball movement: +43 per cent, 4th
NORTH MELBOURNE POINTS CONCEDED
2003 101.1
2017 101
2010 100.4
2008 99.9
2006 98.5
2002 98.2
2005 97.1
2004 97.1
2011 94.6
2007 93.9
2009 91.6
2013 87.7
2016 87
2015 86.2
2014 81.6
Source: CHAMPION DATA
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/004503be542e5752f315a77e2d48601d
July 4, 2017 8:50pm
SAM LANDSBERGER
NORTH Melbourne is fun to watch. But the Kangaroos are even more fun to play against. Because what is unfolding at Arden St this season is a rebuild in reverse. Slick, sexy offensive ball movement is the layer coach Brad Scott appears to have focused on first.
It is flair and dazzle over dour defence. It us the opposite of Paul Roos’ methodical overhaul of Melbourne, Brendon Bolton’s Carlton “sponge” or ex-Western Bulldogs coach Brendon McCartney’s contested-ball cornerstone. And it is also leaving the Kangaroos wide open to be sliced apart.
The Kangas are leaking 101 points per game this season, their second-highest total in 15 years and 14 points more than last year. That’s a big rise. Particularly when 2014-2016 were North’s stingiest seasons since 2003. The scorching pace the Kangas can score at allowed them to fight back from 26 points down 14 minutes into the last quarter against the Western Bulldogs. Inspired by workhorse Ben Cunnington, North surged by kicking 4.2 to no score in 14 scintillating minutes. But the free gamestyle also cost them victory that night. After playmaker Shaun Higgins’ snapped a behind out of a stoppage to tie the game, the Dogs went coast-to-coast in four kicks and Jake Stringer slotted the winning point deep in the final quarter. It was far too easy for Matthew Suckling, Jack Redpath and Lachie Hunter to whisk the ball to Stringer in 12 seconds.
A look at Champion Data’s measure of North’s ball movement this season would have filled Dogs fans with hope — and Kangas supporters with doubt — entering that frenetic final play. Scott’s team ranks fourth for offensive ball movement. That means they are the No.4 team in the competition for successfully moving the footy from Point A to B. But they rank 16th for defensive movement, when the opposition takes possession, perched 80 per cent below the AFL average.
There is nothing wrong with Scott’s rebuild approach. It is just different to what we have witnessed in previous seasons. In Round 14 the Kangas conceded 15.17 (107) to the Dogs, the premier’s first triple-digit score since Round 5. On Saturday Gold Coast kicked 18.10 (118) in its 19-point victory against North, the Suns’ first triple-digit score since Round 7. In Round 11 it was Richmond which kicked its sole triple-digit score since Round 4 against Brisbane, and even Carlton managed a season-best 15 goals against the Kangas, despite the Blues losing in Round 10.
Scott’s team sits near the bottom of every backline metric, despite playing in some of the season’s most pulsating games. It is stuff out of the Matthew Knights handbook circa 2008-10. Back then Knights’ Bombers kicked more than 100 points 27 times in three seasons, but instead of blowing sides away they often engaged in brazened shootouts.
Scott’s joeys are dangerous. They sliced the previously unbeaten Adelaide apart by kicking 22 goals in a stunning Round 7 victory. They’ve unleashed star kid Luke McDonald on to a wing this season and a rejuvenated Higgins has reached peak form. The next step is to tighten the screws. If they can a ladder rise will come. If not it could be good Knights.
NORTH MELBOURNE’S DEFENCE
SCORING
Points against 101: (average), 16th (rank)
Opposition goals per inside 50m: 26.1 per cent, 14th
Points conceded from turnover: 58.5, 15th
Points conceded from stoppage: 38.4, 17th
BALL MOVEMENT
Opposition defensive 50m to inside 50m: 23.7 per cent, 17th
Points conceded from defensive 50m: 18.1 16th
Opposition halfback to inside 50m: 44.3 per cent, 16th
Points conceded from halfback: 20.1, 14th
Defensive ball movement: -80 per cent, 16th
NORTH MELBOURNE’S ATTACK
SCORING
Points for: 93.5, 7th
Goals per inside 50m: 25.4 per cent, 8th
Points from turnovers: 55.6, 8th
Points from stoppages: 34.6, 5th
BALL MOVEMENT
Defensive 50m to inside 50m: 21.3 per cent, 8th
Points from defensive 50m: 17.5, 5th
Halfback to inside 50m: 43.1 per cent, 6th
Points from half-back: 19.1, 6th
Offensive ball movement: +43 per cent, 4th
NORTH MELBOURNE POINTS CONCEDED
2003 101.1
2017 101
2010 100.4
2008 99.9
2006 98.5
2002 98.2
2005 97.1
2004 97.1
2011 94.6
2007 93.9
2009 91.6
2013 87.7
2016 87
2015 86.2
2014 81.6
Source: CHAMPION DATA
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...e/news-story/004503be542e5752f315a77e2d48601d
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