Blog log from R18 of 2025: Melbourne vs North Melbourne

It took a while for the first goal to come via Pickett, then after another to Fritsch North took the lead with majors from Darling, Curtis and Harvey, matched by one from Melksham. (Q1 29:43)
Curtis converts a set shot from 40m on the flank as the QT siren sounds to give North the lead at the first break. (Qtr Time)
Darling marks on his chest in front of Turner near the hotspot and extends the Kangaroo lead to something approaching like their disposal dominance. (Q2 1:08)
Jefferson juggles a contested grab in front of Dawson next to the behind post and curls in the goal. (Q2 2:59)
Three Roos to spoil towards the pocket but Fritsch stayed down to rove, he gives back to Langdon who snaps the goal off a step from 20m. (Q2 4:55)
van Rooyen flies over a pack 40m out to take a classic pack mark, riding on the back of his man Comben. But his kick is way to the left for a point. (Q2 7:21)
Saelm runs inboard from a stoppage on members wing and goes to Pickett 40m out who juggles a quality contested grab with Phillips draped all over him… but he also shanks, OOTF. (Q2 9:26)
Pickett again has Phillips all over him like a cheap suit, this time he can’t mark but gets the free 20m out… and shanks it again for a point. (Q2 10:53)
Repeat inside 50s for the Dees as North can’t rebound past half way, Chandler steers through a snap from 40m on a slight angle after a long forward handball by Langford. (Q2 11:56)
Oliver passes inboard from the HFF to Chandler 50m out on a slight angle, who runs in left looking for extra distance and shanks it left and OOTF. (Q2 17:51)
Lever has two small Roos to battle on the ground after a long Hardeman speculator falls clear on the HFF for North, he tugs the jumper of Hansen jnr who misses the free from 40m. (Q2 19:05)
Phillips soccers from the top of the square after a stoppage but it skids to the right. (Q2 22:54)
Phillips fumbles on members wing but redeems himself by bowling over Bowey to cause a spillage, Daniel passes short to Curtis 40m out on a slight angle, he kicks short, no score. (Q2 23:51)
Harvey roves at the hotspot and rifles a lovely handball wide to Konstanty but the snap is narrow to the right. (Q2 25:05)
Curtis takes a link mark at half forward and goes wide to the flank for Harvey 45m out, whose set shot is across the face to the right. (Q2 28:26)
Sheezel intercepts a lazy Salem kick in the centre and releases Curtis on a quick counter attack, he has no one to kick to… and blazes OOTF from 60m. (Q3 4:48)
Curtis gets another chance for a decision with ball in hand at half forward, he chooses wisely this time with a hit up to Zurhaar 40m out in front. The Bull shoots to the right. (Q3 5:09)
Gawn runs out to the right on a set shot 45m out on the flank but roosts a lovely set shot to extend Melbourne’s lead. (Q3 7:24)
Salem smothers Phillips’s handball, Langdon mops up and gives back to Salem who runs through the centre and passes to Jefferson 40m out on a slight angle who misses. (Q3 9:19)
Fritsch marks on the lead 45m out on a slight angle after another young Roo disposal clanger, this one by McKercher. Fritta kicks truly. (Q3 10:06)
Zurhaar puts his head over the footy to earn a contact free on McDonald in the pocket 20m out, he converts. (Q3 12:51)
Melksham answers with a set shot goal from 30m on a slight angle. (Q3 15:01)
Zurhaar halves a contest with Turner 45m out then catches Lever HTB for his second goal of the quarter. (Q3 18:56)
Maley intercepts on outer wing and bangs long to the pocket, Zurhaar goes up but the ball spills off his fingers for a point. (Q3 19:39)
Zurhaar gets a contact free waiting for a Phillips kick to the corridor 45m out, Turner holding. His set shot starts left and swerves right for his third goal of Q3! (Q3 21:06)
Fritsch passes from the HFF to the pocket for Jefferson 30m out, who misses near side left and OOTF. (Q3 23:07)
Chandler snaps his second goal from the hotspot after Langdon gives inside from a ball up on the HFF. (Q3 26:02)
Oliver receives from Gawn after a stoppage in the pocket but hits the far left post from 25m. (Q3 30:19)
Hardeman shows courage to spoil in the back pocket but shrugs after he is pinged for insufficient intent, van Rooyen curls in the cheap goal in red time. (Q3 32:03)
Windsor rushes in the square after Hansen can’t get past him and Bowey to thieve a goal just on the 3QT siren. (Q3 33:40)
Melksham has the sit on Pink and marks a long Langford ball from members wing to 30m on the flank, he avoids the far left post to kick his third goal. (Q4 1:07)
Melksham marks a Bowey pass 45m out on a slight angle and boots goal number four. We are now getting into sealer territory. (Q4 3:53)
Tholstrup delivers the sealing goal from the pocket 25m out from a checkside off a step, with Petracca’s clearance the key determinant. (Q4 7:42)
Harvey screws in a nice finish off his right from 30m on a slight angle. (Q4 9:22)
McVee shows excellent vision in traffic on members wing to hit the fat side for Fritsch to mark 40m out on a slight angle for some cherries. (Q4 10:52)
Fritsch marks a Pickett centre clearance over Logue and gives Melksham a Joe the Goose special for number five! (Q4 12:25)
Darling snaps a goal from 40m on the flank after a backwards handball by Konstanty to clear congestion. (Q4 14:22)
Harvey roosts through his third goal from 45m on the flank. (Q4 15:42)
Sparrow sails through a nice finish from just inside 50m on a slight angle for another cherry. (Q4 21:10)
Gawn bursts away from a ball up on members wing and scrubs a kick to the teeth of goal, Petracca gathers and breaks a Stephens tackle to snap another cherry goal. (Q4 33:17)
Harvey marks a Simpkin pass 45m out in front and kicks goal number four, three of them in this quarter. (Q4 35:10)
Petracca marks a Pickett pass near the boundary 45m out and misses near side right. (Q4 38:23)