North Melbourne’s slim hopes of a wildcard appearance are alive after holding on to beat the Western Bulldogs for a breakthrough win over an AFL finals contender.
Alastair Clarkson’s side led every minute on Thursday night but the Dogs chipped away either side of the three-quarter time, until Luke Davies-Uniacke’s crucial goal midway through the final term sent them on their way to a 15.10 (100) to 11.11 (77) victory.
The Kangaroos remain a mathematical chance of making the top 10 for now after ending their losing streak at five games.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Davies-Uniacke starred with 31 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 tackles and two goals, George Wardlaw was industrious (19 disposals, six clearances, three tackles, one goal) and Paul Curtis led the way with four goals.
Wardlaw, playing for the first time in a month, willed himself on the game to show just why North have remained so high on him through his injury setbacks.
“We are seeing something special from George Wardlaw tonight,” Kane Cornes said on Channel 7 after Wardlaw stopped a goal with a full-length diving tackle.
“He’s mini (Patrick) Dangerfield. He’s almost prime Dangerfield, that’s what he’s reminded me of tonight. His contest work, his intensity, as good as you will see.”
Wardlaw impressed in just 57 per cent game time as the Roos managed his minutes slightly more than usual coming off his latest hamstring strain.
North burst out of the blocks with a 6.0 opening term and kept the Bulldogs at arm’s length until a third-quarter blitz from Luke Beveridge’s charges piled on the pressure.
But a tense start to the fourth term was banished when Davies-Uniacke goaled and Wardlaw stood tall, with Zac Banch sealing it with his second.
“What a night for them. Hadn’t beaten a top-eight side, that was all the talk,” Cornes said.
“Challenged just before three-quarter time and just some amazing individual efforts, just a refusal to be beaten tonight.
“Maybe a turning of the guard for the this footy club.”
Harry Sheezel said the win “felt great” but it was also “relief” to hold on against a strong side in front of their home fans.
“We don’t know if the season’s still alive or not but we’re going to keep fighting,” he told Channel 7.
The 21-year-old conceded it was “natural” to go to a dark place when the Bulldogs started to fight back.
“But we’ve done a lot of work on trying to force through that,” Sheezel said.
“Our togetherness, the way everyone was buying into team defence and the pressure — so good to have George Wardlaw back throwing his weight around. He inspires the team, he probably inspired everyone around Australia tonight.”
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli had just two clearances and said they were clearly second-best all night.
“They gave us a bit of a lesson with their ability to hunt loose ball,” he said.
The Dogs were always up against it to move into the top six owing to their poor percentage and Thursday night’s defeat has almost certainly locked them into a wildcard clash.
And North, buoyed by their first win since June, are still hoping to join them if they can cause monumental upsets against Geelong and Sydney in the last two rounds.
“It’s super exciting,” Nick Larkey said of the prospect of extending their season.
“We’ve just got to keep doing as much right as we can, playing our way, build and grow as a team.
“We’ll give ourselves every chance.”
