Kangaroos too hot for sloppy Demons

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ONLY on the strange and wonderful universe of Arden St could North Melbourne ever be in danger of losing last night's MCG contest.

Only in the Land of Miracles - formerly known as the Melbourne Football Club - could the Demons be in the hunt midway through the third term.

COACHES BEMUSED BY REVIEW FARCE

NOT A BAD WEEKEND FOR BERNIE

For two and a half quarters Paul Roos' Demons threatened to reprise last week's come-from-nowhere victory, outgunned and outscored and yet somehow still within touch.

At half time the Demons had been brutalised on the scoreboard with 15 shots to six yet still trailed by only 14 points.

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With Bernie Vince kicking goals from everywhere, and Robin Nahas missing them from point-blank range, the Demons dared to believe.

Yet even in a football world where magical acts like last week's The Play are possible, normal service usually resumes.

Up by just seven points after Chris Dawes' goal to start the third term, the Roos finally got value for effort with a seven goal third-term onslaught to end the game as a contest.

Drew Petrie gets the better of Tom McDonald in a marking contest. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Vince's solitary effort was overwhelmed by a North Melbourne team effort that saw an even spread of midfielders and an array of goalkicking targets.

Amid 11 goalkickers (check) Drew Petrie continued his form revival and rawboned ex-Werribee giant Ben Brown showed he is worth more opportunities.

And with Andrew Swallow well-tagged and Ben Cunnington quiet early, the next tier in Levi Greenwood, Jack Ziebell and Shaun Atley just stepped up in their absence.

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The Roos would kick 7.4 in a dozen minutes in the third quarter, counterpunching just when it seemed the Demons were on the verge of really getting their act together.

Bernie Vince might have played a lone hand in the first half, but what a knock it was.

The 25 touches were scintillating, but the three goals topped it off and reinforced again what a value pick he has been despite the Demons giving up the no. 23 selection.

Jack Ziebell flies high but can't complete the mark. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

He bombed a long-range effort from 55m early and peeled off a left-foot snap from 40 metres on the run, utterly dominating the contest.

Yet this was the ultimate reminder for Melbourne that lightning rarely strikes twice.

In football you mostly get what you deserve, and the manic pressure and determination to close down opponents was rarely on show last night.

Lindsay Thomas checks his jaw after copping a stray elbow. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Jeremy Howe floated across packs for a couple of hangers and Chris Dawes led hard and strong, but that was about it.

The Roos just had to win this game to keep their top-four hopes alive, and after another humbling last week against Adelaide the bounce-back effect saw them bring plenty of heat.

Nahas was industrious early despite his howler - attempting to pass to Brown in the goalsquare from 20 out with no angle - but ended the day subbed out with a nasty shoulder injury.

Brown has been held back only by injury and showed glimpses rather than sustained brilliance, but has sure hands and converted a soaring high mark.

Of course there was an third umpiring controversy, because they happen with monotonous regularity.

Bernie Vince was excellent for Melbourne in the loss. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Jack Ziebell's 50m bomb was called a goal and yet after an interminable delay was over-ruled by technology as touching the post despite a lack of overwhelming evidence.

For Melbourne after repeated steps forward under Roos this was an almighty slide back to mediocrity.

Daniel Cross battled away, Nathan Jones racked it up and Jack Watts floated around to pad the stats sheet.

But the Demons fans out there who wish Melbourne would achieve victory with finesse would now realise under Roos you win because you turn it into a street-fight.

Eventually this game turned into a percentage booster for North Melbourne and a coaching tool for Roos and precious little else.

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