North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis is in the spotlight again following a strike to St Kilda’s Angus Hastie during the first quarter of their recent match, which resulted in a reported incident against him. This incident marks Curtis’s second brush with discipline this season, having previously missed three matches due to a dangerous tackle.
The expected grading for the strike is likely to be intentional, which carries the possibility of a two-game suspension if classified as medium impact and head-high contact. If deemed high impact, it could lead to a tribunal hearing. Despite the drama, St Kilda managed to secure a convincing victory over North Melbourne, dominating the second half after initially trailing for most of the first half.
While North Melbourne briefly led, a powerful third quarter from the Saints yielded six goals, ultimately sealing the game, though the Roos rallied back to come within three points by the end. A 50-metre penalty awarded right before the final siren capped off St Kilda’s victory.
The defeat leaves North Melbourne facing a sixth consecutive season in the bottom four of the league standings, compounded by the looming loss of their first-round draft pick to Richmond after the season ends. Nonetheless, the Kangaroos can take some solace in the performances of emerging talents, such as Colby McKercher, who achieved 36 disposals and a goal, and Harry Sheezel, who tallied 33 disposals and also found the scoreboard.
For St Kilda, standout player Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera demonstrated his rising potential with 36 disposals and is speculated to command a lucrative contract in the future. In a strategic move by coach Ross Lyon, the team’s captain, Jack Steele, was placed as a substitute amid plans to manage player workloads in the latter part of the season.
Lyon elaborated on the decision to rest Steele, indicating a focus on preserving their inside midfielders’ health, especially following concerns regarding Steele’s neck soreness throughout the season. He entered the match late to replace injured forward Mitch Owens, contributing eight disposals.
With impressive performances from players like ruckman Rowan Marshall, St Kilda is poised to build on this victory as they prepare to face Richmond, while North Melbourne gears up for a match against GWS in Sydney. The future holds challenges for both teams, but recent developments provide insights into their potential trajectories.