Print this page- NORTH Adelaide is back in the ball game after an indifferent start to the season.
The Roosters showed off their true potential with a 99-point smashing of a woeful South Adelaide at Prospect Oval yesterday.
The Roosters went on the rampage to nail just their third win of the season.
But this was a win coach Andrew Jarman has demanded from his side and one which is set to kick-start its assault on the title.In contrast, the Panthers, second on the ladder going into the clash, had their deficiencies exposed.
North's workrate, skills and discipline were vastly superior but most evident was the division in class as they tore the visitors apart with an attacking gameplan which has been the trademark under Jarman.
''We took a lot o f out of the Central game (Anzac Day loss to the Bulldogs) - that hurt a bit,'' Jarman said.
''Our execution was effective. We kept the opposition to under 60 points and it is the first time in two years I have kept the back six together and not made a change.
''I was pleased with the midfield - they worked a lot harder and were a lot more accountable.''
The signs were ominous early. Just one minute into the contest Nathan Lonie kick started a movement which went by foot to James Allan then Leigh Ryswyk and Heath Younie before hitting Clint Alleway on the lead.It was all too easy.
After four minutes the home side had two goals on the board and midway through the opening quarter the lead had ballooned to 35 points.
The Panthers were under siege, devoid of answers to the onslaught and lacking the fight to put the Roosters under any pressure.
Incredibly there were 20 free kicks, some bewildering to say the least, paid in the first term.
There were 28 awarded for the rest of the match.
By half-time - and with the Roosters in complete control with a 42-point buffer - the lack lustre encounter was all but over as a contest.
There were 11 Roosters who had at least 10 possessions in the first half compared to just three from the Panthers.
Power-listed Damon White was unstoppable in attack for the Roosters while defenders Luke Ivens and Andrew McIntyre were tireless.
The entertaining run from defence was back and North faced little resistence when charging forward in waves.
''It was really disappointing today,'' South coach Jack Cahill said. ''I thought we would be a really competitive team.
''We didn't see that today - it was terrible. We looked jaded and I could not see much life in them.
''But there are no excuses. We take ownership for the game we played. The only way we can redeem that is to get back out there next game and show we are fair dinkum, prepared to risk our body and be unselfish."We have to do the hard yards in the running. We didn't do that and North Adelaide showed us up.''
NORTH ADELAIDE 7.2 12.5 18.10 24.14 (158)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.3 5.6 7.7 8.11 (59)
BEST - North: D. White, Ivens, McIntyre, Ryswyk, Sporn, Younie, Archard, Lonie. South: Boyd, Prendergast, Ellis, Parry. SCORERS - North: D. White 5.1, Alleway, Younie 3.1, Ryswyk 2.2, Stewart 2.1, Archard, Motlop 2.0, Pfeiffer 1.2, Walker 1.1, O'Brien, Allan, Lonie 1.0, Wright 0.2, rushed 0.3. South: Ellis 3.3, Boyd 2.0, Warren 1.1, Norsworthy, Williams 1.0, Burdett 0.2, Bachmann, Handby 0.1, rushed 0.3. UMPIRES - J. Ralston, D. Joyce, S. Grun.
Courtesy of AdelaideNow
Story by Warren Partland