NORTH’S HUGE UPSET
NORTH Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has long suggested that his club’s kids are alright and yesterday they put the AFL on notice, starring in a gusty 20point upset win over GWS at Giants Stadium.
North could easily have settled for an honourable defeat against the premiership contenders, having fought hard throughout an arm-wrestle before the hosts threatened to take control after half-time.
Instead, the visitors regained the lead before threequarter time then slotted six goals in the fourth term to prevail 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60). Curtis Taylor, Bailey Scott, Tarryn Thomas and Cameron Zurhaar – boasting a combined 57 games of experience – each booted clutch goals in the fourth quarter.
Zurhaar finished with a game-high three majors, also bringing the physicality and desperation that helped stifle the Giants’ potent run through the middle.
Shaw heaped praise on the youngsters, also highlighting the work of second-gamer Kyron Hayden after he matched up on goal-less GWS star Toby Greene at different stages of the scrap.
“The boys stood up. Our young brigade is certainly playing their part in these victories,” Shaw told reporters. “We’re a pretty basic team. We fight for each other and the way the boys smacked in was really pleasing. In our minds it wasn’t an upset. We were pretty confident coming into the game.”
Shaw suggested the likes of Ben Cunnington,
Shaun Higgins, Todd Goldstein, Jed Anderson and Aaron Hall were helping fast-track the development of North’s young guns.
Jared Polec, arguably best on ground, and captain Jack Ziebell also fittingly kicked goals when the game was up for grabs in the fourth term.