North Melbourne have continued on their merry way to a surprise finals berth with a comfortable 54-point win over injury-ravaged Brisbane.
The Kangaroos lost Jarrad Waite to calf tightness just minutes before the opening bounce and Jed Anderson (hip) soon after it, but they stormed out of the blocks to set up Sunday's 21.15 (141) to 12.15 (87) win at Etihad Stadium.
North were a popular tip to finish in the bottom four this season, but Brad Scott's team has a 7-4 record at the halfway point and have played footy deserving of a finals berth.
Percentage will likely play a big part in deciding the final order of the top eight and if there is one complaint to be made about the even performance, it's that they failed to go on with the job in the second half.
Leading by 55 points at halftime and with Brisbane down to one fit player on the bench, an opportunity to record a percentage-boosting win beckoned.
"I've never heard a coach talk about percentage," Scott said.
"It's always a very dangerous word to use in coaching because it insinuates that you're focused on the result and not the process.
"But I think subconsciously players know they've got the game under control.
"As a coach you always want perfection ... it wasn't perfect but you very rarely play 120 perfect minutes.
"It was a very, very good performance all in all."
For the Lions, Charlie Cameron (ankle), Allen Christensen (concussion) and Hugh McCluggage (calf) all left the game in the first half after Jarrod Berry was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness.
North forward Jy Simpkin enjoyed a solid afternoon, but will come under scrutiny for the first-quarter bump that left Christensen dazed.
Combative Lion Mitch Robinson was reported for a bump on Shaun Higgins in the third quarter, but the star Roo was able to continue.
His 38-possession performance set a new career-high.
North had plenty of other contributors, with Luke McDonald (34 disposals and two goals), Ben Cunnington (28 touches and Jack Ziebell (19 possessions and three goals) all important.
Paul Ahern had an AFL debut to remember, the former GWS midfielder amassing 29 possessions.
The injuries to Waite and Anderson are thought to be minor.
"Waitey tightened up in his calf just as I got into the box for the start of the game," Scott said.
"He just said that it tightened up to the point that he felt if he really pushed it that he'd tear it.
"I thought it was a great for him to say that he's not right ... it's much better doing that two minutes before the game than two minutes into it."
Former Brisbane skipper Dayne Beams had to contend with master tagger Ben Jacobs and he won the day with a superb 32-disposal, five-goal effort.
Share
