CELLAR dweller North Melbourne has gone within a whisker of knocking off defending premier Brisbane, with the two sides sharing the points in a thrilling draw at Ninja Stadium on Sunday night.
Despite being at opposite ends of the table, the clubs couldn't be split in the 10.11 (71) to 10.11 (71) result in Hobart.
KANGAROOS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats
The lead changed hands multiple times in the final 10 minutes - the Kangaroos had the better of the opportunities to steal the win at the death, but couldn't land the killer blow.
North Melbourne forward Cameron Zurhaar had a tough shot from the boundary with his side down by one point with about 80 seconds left, but only managed a behind.
The Kangaroos then had a run inside 50 in the final minute, before Lions defender Jack Payne spoiled a potential mark.
North Melbourne had trailed 40-20 at the main break but fought its way back.
The result leaves the Roos in second last place with just one win, despite promising showings in recent weeks, while the Lions jump back to the top of the table.
"Strange emotions when you have a draw," North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said after the game.
"They’re probably saying 'we were up 20 points at half-time, how did we let that game slip?' (And) we got ourselves a goal up (in the last quarter).
"Over the course of the whole game we had our chances. Brisbane would be the same … but I feel we left five or six genuine goals on the park tonight."
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said the mood was also strange in the Lions' sheds, but said the two competition points could prove valuable later in the season.
"I thought our blokes showed plenty of ticker to at least get some points out of the game," he said.
"We weren't at our best, but a lot of that had to do with our opposition."
The Lions lost Jarrod Berry in the first quarter when he was subbed out with concussion after a heavy collision with North Melbourne's Luke McDonald off the ball.
They appeared likely to run away with the contest after a run of goals at the back end of the second quarter, but North, on a losing run of seven games against Brisbane, rallied to reduce the gap to 51-42 at the start of the final term.
North hit the lead with 10 minutes to play when Jacob Konstanty slotted a goal off a free kick.
However, Brisbane got back in front through Zac Bailey after the Kangaroos were pinged for kicking in danger.
The scores were then tied at 70-70 when Brisbane's Cameron Raynor slotted a set shot with about five minutes left.
The visitors had their noses ahead when Eric Hipwood hit a behind with three minutes to go, before Zurhaar returned the favour with one point at the other end.
Raynor and Hipwood both kicked three goals for Brisbane, while Zurhaar and Jack Darling bagged two each for the Kangaroos.
Roo could have MRO concern
A first-quarter collision between Luke McDonald and Jarrod Berry could have the Roos defender worried ahead of the MRO review. There seemed to be nothing in the incident beyond two players focused on the ball and not aware of the other's presence, but when Berry was subbed out with concussion the focus turned to whether McDonald was to blame.
Maybe it's our fault he's not so Larkey anymore
In early April this website ran a story on Nick Larkey's goalkicking, one of the most accurate in the history of the game. Since then the Roos spearhead has gone through the least accurate stretch of his career. It's still not too bad, running at 54% over the past five rounds, but it wouldn't surprise if Larkey doesn't pick up the phone to AFL.com.au anytime soon.
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.0 3.2 6.6 10.11 (71)
BRISBANE 2.3 6.4 7.9 10.11 (71)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 2, Darling 2, Wardlaw, Stephens, Parker, McKercher, Larkey, Konstanty
Brisbane: Rayner 3, Hipwood 3, Cameron, Bailey, L.Ashcroft, Ah Chee
BEST
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Comben, Parker, Sheezel, Zurhaar, Xerri
Brisbane: Zorko, Dunkley, W.Ashcroft, McCluggage, Fletcher, Rayner
INJURIES
North Melbourne: TBC
Brisbane: Jarrod Berry (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Bailey Scott, replaced Finnbar Maley at three-quarter time
Brisbane: Darcy Gardiner, replaced Jarrod Berry in the second quarter
Crowd: TBC at Ninja Stadium, Hobart
