By Peter Ryan
North Melbourne head into the off-season filled with hope despite finishing their worst year since 1972 with a loss as they anticipate a summer of progress under newly appointed four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson.
They should be under no illusions as to the amount of work required to even become competitive after Gold Coast, a club that knows how the Kangaroos feel, made them look second rate after quarter-time.
They should have the No.1 pick for the second season in a row and the performance would have helped any case that may still be made for a priority pick.
North Melbourne’s defensive pressure was poor as they allowed the Suns to kick eight unanswered goals after drawing within 14 points early in the third quarter to lose by 67 points. The game would not have been a comfortable watch for those charged with delivering improvement with Clarkson sure to have sighed at times at the display he witnessed.
By contrast, it was a solid performance by Gold Coast under Stuart Dew as they finished their season with 10 wins – equalling the club’s best season in 2014 – kicking two goals in the first two minutes to establish a lead they never lost.
Gold Coast’s Mabior Chol is tackled.Credit:AFL Photos / Getty Images
The Suns would have been further ahead at half-time if they had kicked straight in the second quarter when they dominated play but failed to convert allowing the Kangaroos, who did similar in the first quarter, to stay in touch.
Gold Coast’s stars Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and David Swallow were too strong around the ball for their opponents Tom Powell, Jy Simpkin, Jason Horne-Francis and Luke Davies-Uniacke but it was really the defence that disappointed with Suns players able to run around their forward 50 like stallions in a paddock in the second half.
The Suns took advantage of their ascendancy around stoppage kicking five unanswered goals to end the third quarter with a 45-point lead as the Kangaroos headed to mad Monday early before kicking the next two goals of the last quarter in front of the third-smallest crowd at Marvel Stadium for the season.
It was a disappointing performance but a reminder as to why Kangaroos’ supporters were so excited by the Clarkson appointment.
Clarkson’s job will be more difficult than Ron Barassi’s was but if he can be successful in getting North Melbourne back on top his legacy will be assured as this club has 17 opponents to gather in and pass.
The positive sign was Josh Goater who showed promise on debut, his first kick a fearless kick into the corridor to Todd Goldstein that opened up the ground and led to the Kangaroos’ opening goal. Curtis Taylor also did a good job running with Miller.
Davies-Uniacke is an exciting smooth mover and Powell, in just his second year, showed he can win the ball. Spirits were also bouyed when veteran Ben Cunnington entered the ground to a roar early in the first quarter and immediately won two disposals in his first AFL game in Victoria for the year after his emotional comeback last week.
The problems in defence remain with the Suns rebuild three years ahead of the Kangaroos as they look to make finals for the first time in 2023.
The reality is November 1, when Clarkson begins at the Kangaroos, can’t arrive quickly enough.
North Melbourne: 1.5 3.6 5.9 6.11 (47)
Gold Coast: 4.2 5.8 12.12 16.18 (114)
Goals:
North Melbourne: Scott, Larkey, Mahony, Davies-Uniacke, Greenwood, Taylor
Gold Coast: Sexton 6, Davies 2, Rosas 2, Anderson, Swallow, Miller, Chol, Lukosius
Best
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Goater, Taylor, McKay
Gold Coast: Sexton, Anderson, Swallow, Lukosius, Ellis, Witts
