Roos win big but ugly - The Age

NORTH MELBOURNE 8.3 12.6 15.10 19.16 (130) GWS 1.3 5.3 6.6 6.8 (44)

GOALS North Melbourne: Petrie 5, Thomas 4, Harvey 3, Mullett, MacMillan, Ziebell, Adams, Bastinac, Tarrant, Goldstein. GWS: O'hAilpin 2, Corr, Sumner, Reid, Hoskin-Elliott.

BEST North Melbourne: Harvey, Swallow, Hansen, Thompson, Petrie. GWS: Scully, Treloar, Reid, O'hAilpin, Hoskin-Elliott.

UMPIRES Hay, Farmer, Leppard.

CROWD 15,438 at Etihad Stadium.

North Melbourne inflicted an emphatic 86-point drubbing on Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, but the Kangaroos will almost feel like they let an opportunity slip to release a few frustrations on an exasperating day at Etihad Stadium.

With their finals aspirations put on life support by four losses of four points or fewer in their first 12 matches, the 13th-placed Roos looked poised early on to give the competition's new boys a record beating.

Spoiler: Nick Haynes attempts to stop big Roo Drew Petrie taking a mark. Photo: Mal Fairclough

A week after Brent Harvey was harassed to distraction by Ryan Crowley, he received the attention of the Giants' Toby Greene, who played a lot wider of the master onballer, with Harvey revelling in the greater freedom.

In a meeting notable for a lack of physical aggression and contested ball, the Giants managed just 33 tackles for the entire match.

The Kangaroos kicked just four goals in four quarters of football against Fremantle last week, but equalled that tally in the first 14 minutes against the Giants.

Kevin Sheedy's youngsters were given plenty of time to rest up during their bye and they played like their minds were elsewhere as the Roos ran riot early.

Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas kicked three goals each in the opening term with the ball never far away from an attacking 50 they patrolled with intent.

Thomas' third goal was a sign of the Giants' lethargy as three defenders looked on as the goalsneak wheeled out to his left to make six points a certainty from the tightest of angles.

Setanta O'hAilpin was the late inclusion when Jeremy Cameron was withdrawn with a virus, and the Irishman at least provided a bit of spark with his side's only goal of the quarter, but the Kangaroos were in control, leading by 42 points.

Sheedy had clearly seen enough and went ultra-defensive. Time and again up to 11 Giants would start a centre bounce from behind the defensive side of the square.

It didn't make for enjoyable Sunday afternoon viewing for either set of fans, but it did stem the flow as the Roos failed to navigate their way through the sea of orange that confronted them more often than not.

Content to try to absorb pressure and counter-attack, Greater Western Sydney equalled North Melbourne's four goals in the second term, with Will Hoskin-Elliott's 60-metre dash and goal a highlight for the Giants.

North managed to edge just three points further in front by half-time, but booted the first three goals in the first eight minutes of the third quarter to put the easy kill that many Roos' fans would have hoped for back on the table.

But that was all Brad Scott's men could muster as the Giants' flood once again confounded their opponents and brought boos echoing down from the sparsely populated stands.

The Giants trailed by 58 points at three-quarter time and were on track for their average losing margin of 69 points this season, but a combination of their tiring legs and the Kangaroos' desire to break the game open saw that margin blow out.

North Melbourne got some measure of satisfaction, with the only four goals of the quarter setting up the 86-point win that leaves just the slightest glimmer of hope that they may be able to salvage something from the second half of the season.

NIGHT AND DAY

Etihad Stadium saw 56,771 rugby fans cram into every available space to watch the Wallabies take on the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night, but that fiery cauldron of national pride had more of a cavernous aircraft hangar feel just hours later. Even with two thirds of the top deck closed to the public, there was still plenty of room to move for the 15,438 fans who turned up.

SHOOTOUT SHUTDOWN

The anticipated shoot-out between Coleman Medal hopefuls Lindsay Thomas and Jeremy Cameron failed to materialise when the prodigiously talented young Giant was a late withdrawal with a virus. Thomas kicked four goals in his rival's absence to strengthen his bid for the goal-kicking prize.

OFF TO THE RACES

The Giants' desire to get players behind the ball in the second quarter put Will Hoskin-Elliott in the rare position of having the entire field vacant in front of him when he intercepted a Brad McKenzie pass meant for Scott Thompson in the defensive half of the centre square. To his credit the young Giant made the most of the situation, showing the pursuing Thompson a clean pair of heels as he took four bounces and goaled.