North Melbourne have held off reigning premier Port Melbourne to register an eight point win in round seven of the VFL season at Fortburn Stadium in Port Melbourne. The Roos opened up brightly thanks to the efforts of tall forwards Michael Close and Nick Larkey and were never headed throughout winning 10.10.70 to 8.14.62.
The Roos got out to a 24-point lead at one stage in the second quarter but the Borough fought back to get within three points at the final change. Inaccuracy in front of goal costing the home side with 22 shots to the Roos twenty. Larkey finishing with a game-high three goals for the Roos, while Close and Oscar Junker both kicked two. Skipper, Jordan Lisle, was the only multiple goal kicker for Port Melbourne with two in his duel with Roo’s defender Sam Durdin.
Durdin took the honours at the end of the day to be one of the Roo’s better players along with ruckman Brayden Pruess who’s aerial work proved important late in the match, Close was influential either in the ruck or up forward and Nick Rippon and Luke Davies-Uniacke worked hard around the packs while Ben Mckay was good in defence.
Durdin inspirational in the final term when he ran down and tackled Port forward Blake Pearson who was running into goal. An accurate kick from Pearson would have had the Borough within a kick of the Roos and building momentum.
Port lost running defender Dillon Viojo-Rainbow early in the match with injury and the Roos pressure and ball movement had the Borough on the back foot. North booted the first three goals before Isaac Conway put Port on the board 23 minutes in.
Close was a headache for the Port defence, booting two second term goals as the Roos stretched their lead. A late goal to Lisle for the Borough reducing the margin to seventeen points at the main break.
Port responded in the third quarter booting three goals to the Roos one and it was game on at the final change with the difference just three points. However North Melbourne were full of run. Junker kicking his second and an important major half-way through the final quarter as the Roos withstood a Borough fightback.
Lucas Cook outstanding for Port Melbourne in defence with 26 disposals and 17 marks while Eli Templeton continued his good form with 32 possessions and nine marks. Cook was well supported down back by Ethan Phillips and Robin Nahas while Luke Tyan and Shannen Lange worked hard and Pearson proved dangerous in the forward line.
Port Melbourne will looked to avenge the defeat when they host the Casey Scorpions in round eight while North Melbourne will do battle with the Box Hill Hawks at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee.
