North Melbourne sends a warning to the league with a thumping win over Hawthorn
TODAY’S LINE-UP: Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling, Tim Lane, Tony Leonard, and Mick Warner
Photo: Julian Smith / AAP
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North Melbourne has completed a convincing 28-point win over the Hawks.
The Kangaroos have jumped to third on the ladder, and will finish the round in the Top 4, defying near-universal predictions of a horror season.
Ben Brown booted four goals for the victors, while Luke Breust (five goals) played a lone hand for Hawthorn.
Ben Brown kicks his fourth and takes the lead in the race for the Coleman!#AFLNorthHawks pic.twitter.com/SGGAuC8ewB
— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) April 22, 2018
Brown told 3AW Football the old Kangaroos wouldn’t have fought back.
“Previously we would have fallen over at the final hurdle,” Brown said.
“To be able to hold steady in the last 15-20 minutes shows we’re building a bit of resolve.”
Brown said being down to two on the bench took its toll.
“I was about as buggered as I’ve ever been!”
Click PLAY to hear from Brown in the rooms
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HALF TIME
We’re witnessing something amazing at Etihad Stadium.
North Melbourne is absolutely thumping Hawthorn, leading by 57 points at the main break.
The Roos have scored 20 times (11.9) to just three.
Ben Brown has four goals, while Jack Ziebell and Jarrad Waite have two.
Matthew Richardson and Cameron Ling can’t quite believe what they’ve witnessed!
They ran the rule over how the Kangaroos managed to dismantle the Hawks at half time.
Click PLAY for the half-time wrap
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THE BUILD-UP
Hawthorn has won eight of its last nine against North Melbourne.
The Hawks enter this clash with a chance to go top of the table after the Giants, Swans, and Power all dropped points.
But North are in white-hot form at the moment, led by Ben Brown’s 15 goals in four games.
And as this round has already shown us: there’s no such thing as an easy match in 2018.
Will the Hawks join West Coast on four wins? Or can North continue to silence the critics?
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