They've been criticised for falling away in tight games, but North Melbourne have bucked the trend to defeat Port Adelaide by 7 points at Etihad Stadium.
Brent Harvey celebrates his match-winning goal. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia
LADIES and gentlemen, meet North Melbourne's next generation.
Yes, you had heard a lot about them, but had no doubt been wondering why you haven't seen just as much of them.
After all, this was a youthful group happy to come along for the ride, but when the elders weren't around they tended to fade into the crowd.
All that changed last night against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
It was three quarters of football that had seen the cards fall perfectly for North's batch of much-talked about youngsters to stand up and deliver.
Drew Petrie had been thrashed by Alipate Carlile, Daniel Wells subdued by Kane Cornes and Brent Harvey, who admittedly would rise late, shackled by Matt White.
North Melbourne coach, Brad Scott, says 'while we weren't perfect, our effort was'.
With those three quiet at three-quarter time and heading into a last quarter 10 points down against arguably the best finishers in the competition, Roos fans had a right to fear the worst.
But this time it would be different.
Ben Cunnington was simply brilliant. His 30 disposals - 19 contested - seven tackles, nine clearances and six inside 50s represented everything North Melbourne hoped he would be.
Jarman Impey can't catch Shaun Atley. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Corp Australia
Levi Greenwood went from sub last week to four-quarter ball magnet this week, finishing with 34 touches, seven tackles and six clearances.
What about Sam Gibson? He had 33. Then there's Brad McKenzie, whose 15th game finished with 25 disposals and five clearances.
Aaron Mullett was terrific off half-back, ditto Luke McDonald and Shaun Atley - the latter taking the game on with a surging run through the middle in the dying moments.
All may have played better individual games, but the significance of these performances was enormous for them and their club.
In many ways, this was the defining game for North Melbourne. If the Roos "are coming" this year then this 14.13 (97) to 13.12 (90) win might be where it all truly started.
This was a win that snapped North out of what had been a season of mediocrity. Winning ugly, losing pretty, whatever the plan might have been, nothing buoys a club and its connections more than talent being fulfilled under in the heat of battle.
Chad Wingard looks to send Port Adelaide forward. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
North Melbourne trailed by 21 points half way through the third quarter when Chad Wingard kicked a brilliant second goal from close in. But the kids never threw it in, and when Harvey rose to prominence with two last quarter goals and Nick Dal Santo forced his way into the contest, it was a recipe that wouldn't be denied.
Port Adelaide will rue missed chances, particularly in the first half when it dominated inside 50s 30-18 and scoring chances but couldn't capitalise fully.
Angus Monfries, Port's best player up until half-time, went down with a torn hamstring early in the third quarter and had to be subbed off, while Wingard played through the pain after twisting an ankle.
But Port didn't lose this game, North won it.
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