Media Watch
Garry Lyon on SEN Breakfast
May 18
“Robbie Tarrant is a mighty player. Every week he takes responsibility for the opposition’s most brilliant and destructive forward and almost without fail he prevails,” Lyon said on Melbourne radio station SEN.
“He won’t be in many discussions and it probably won’t be a popular nomination, but then again, defenders in our game rarely are.
“On Sunday, while all around him in blue and white jumpers were struggling to withstand the Sydney onslaught he stood toe to toe with the best athlete to have played the game and walked away with his scalp and his reputation enhanced.”
Williams loving life
afl.com.au, Ben Guthrie
May 31
A more mature Marley Williams is flourishing in the second-coming of his career at North Melbourne.
The former Magpie is "loving life" at his new home at Arden Street, with the small defender producing some of the most consistent football of his 78-game AFL career for North in 2017.
Kangaroos coach Brad Scott labelled the 23-year-old recruit as "crucial" to the Roos' backline stocks after Williams played a pivotal role in the side's 17-point win over Carlton last Sunday.
Williams, traded to North Melbourne in exchange for pick No.105 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, said the move had been the best thing for him.
Medical Report
Ben Jacobs (lower leg) 2 weeks
Sam Wright (ankle/foot) – 2-3 weeks
Corey Wagner (ankle) – 1-2 weeks
Ben McKay (hip/groin) – 2 weeks
Jy Simpkin (AC joint) – 2-3 weeks
Ed Vickers-Willis (PCL) – 6-8 weeks
Oscar Junker (tibia) – TBC
Paul Ahern (knee) – season
Fresh Faces
Two of North Melbourne’s off-season acquisitions, Marley Williams and Nathan Hrovat, have made an impact in their first season at Arden Street, with the pair both playing every game so far in 2017. Former Collingwood half-back Williams has provided drive out of the back half and a strong smaller defensive option for the Roos. After being starved of opportunity at the Western Bulldogs, Hrovat has increased North Melbourne’s midfield depth this season, averaging 17.9 disposals and 3.4 tackles.
Star
Arguably the second best key defender in the AFL behind back-to-back-to-back All-Australian Alex Rance, Robbie Tarrant has gone to another level this season on the back of his best and fairest winning 2016. The 28-year-old limited the influence of Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt last start, held Sydney superstar Lance Franklin to one goal in Round 8, a week after keeping Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker to just one major. While the Kangaroos haven’t won too many games this season, Tarrant has been one of the clear highlights and is well on the way to his second Syd Barker Medal.
Stats that matter
Brad Scott’s side isn’t renowned for the possession side of the game, they don’t over possess the ball, they chip it backwards or sideways. North Melbourne kick the ball less than any other team in the competition (191.8 per game), they are ranked No. 17 for marks (79.6) and No. 16 for kick to handball ratio 1.07. What they do is kick the ball long and forward, kicking the ball forward more than any other side at 89.9 per cent of the time.
Team
B: M. Williams, R. Tarrant, J. Macmillan
HB: L. Hansen, S. Thompson, L. McDonald
C: S. Gibson, B. Cunnington, R. Clarke
HF: K. Turner, J. Waite, T. Garner
F: M. Wood, B. Brown, T. Dumont
R: T. Goldstein, J. Ziebell, S. Higgins
Interchange: A. Mullett, N. Hrovat, S. Atley, D. Mountford
Emergencies: B. Preuss, A. Swallow, J. Anderson
IN: D. Mountford
OUT: Ed Vickers-Willis (knee)
