AFL semi-final: North Melbourne holds on against Geelong

Robert Somers at the MCG
and others
• 5 min read
Jack Ziebell

PHOTO GALLERY: The best photos from the MCG

The Kangaroos will play Sydney in a preliminary final at ANZ Stadium next Friday night.

An electrifying final 10 minutes from Tom Hawkins almost delivered Geelong an inconceivable victory.

After North led by 32 points 14 minutes into the final term, the Cats slammed on four goals to none, including three from Hawkins, putting the match on a knife edge.


Tom Hawkins was sensational in the last 10 minutes, nailing three goals. Photo: Quinn Rooney (Getty)

But it was Todd Goldstein's pack mark deep in defence inside the last minute which effectively clinched the emotional win for the Kangaroos.

Geelong's exit was the first time a top-four side had bowed out of the finals in straight sets since West Coast in 2007.


For North Melbourne, it heads to Sydney confident in the knowledge it has now beaten all of the top four sides this season.

Sam Gibson played the best game of his life. The former Hawthorn rookie gathered 35 possessions, most of them damaging, and looked to be the fittest player on the ground.
 
Lindsay Thomas kick-started the victory by nailing a goal less than 20 seconds after the opening bounce, and then added another two before quarter time.

Drew Petrie booted four goals, and presented strongly all match.

For the losers, Hawkins finished with five goals , Josh Caddy was impressive with 26 touches and Joel Selwood (24 disposals) put in another brave effort.

The only downside for North was a hamstring injury to Jamie Macmillan that looks set to ruin the quiet achiever's season. He was subbed out during the third quarter.
 

Joel Selwood's eyebrow was cut during the second term. Photo: Quinn Rooney (Getty)

Brent Harvey will also come under match review panel scrutiny for a second-quarter hit on Selwood.

The Kangaroos made a flying start with a seven-goal opening term and led by as much 30 points, but the Cats rallied with three quick goals to reduce the margin to 12 points at quarter time.

The Roos reasserted themselves after the first break and added two goals, while keeping the Cats goalless for the term. That was an especially good result for North considering it had won just seven off 16 second quarters in 2014.

Aaron Black booted the first major after half-time to extend North's advantage to 30 points. Goals were traded until Corey Enright drove home a goal from 50m to cut the three-quarter time margin to four goals.
 
The Roos looked home when Jack Ziebell booted two majors midway into the final stanza.

Geelong kicked five goals in a grandstand finish as the Kangaroos struggled to get out of their back half.

But time ran out for Geelong, which ultimately left its run too late.


The Kangaroos will meet Sydney next Friday night, while Geelong's season is over. Photo: Quinn Rooney (Getty)

GEELONG                     5.1   5.6   8.9    13.14 (92)
NORTH MELBOURNE  7.1   9.6   12.9  14.14 (98)

GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 5, Walker 3, Duncan, Caddy, Blicavs, Enright, Bartel
North Melbourne: Petrie 4, Thomas 3, Ziebell 2, Turner, Goldstein, Harvey, Black, Dal Santo

BEST
Geelong: Caddy, Hawkins, Selwood, Lonergan, Guthrie,
North Melbourne: Gibson, Dal Santo, Goldstein, Petrie, Thomas

INJURIES
Geelong: Rivers (calf)
North Melbourne: McMillan (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Jackson Thurlow replaced by Lincoln McCarthy in the third quarter
North Melbourne: Jamie Macmillan replaced by Ryan Bastinac in the third quarter

Crowd: 65,963 at the MCG
Author(s)
Robert Somers at the MCG