But it was all about controlGemma Bastiani
womens.afl
16 November 2022While Garner breaking free and King playing more as a stay-at-home forward was essential, it really came down to the controlling style of play North Melbourne was able to execute, effectively playing 'keepings off' footy.
The Kangaroos not only won more possession than they did in round 10, but also found more of it on the outside, therefore limiting the pressure Richmond was able to apply.
North Melbourne's outside ball                      Contested     Uncontested       Total          Contested    Uncontested
                     Possessions    Possessions    Possessions   Possession    Possession
                                                                                     rate (%)      rate (%)
Round 10              111               94               205               54.1            45.9
Semi Final             113             121               234               48.3            51.7
In turn with North Melbourne's increase in uncontested possession and increased reliance on kicks over handballs, it dominated the mark count, registering 33 more than the Tigers and 65 in total. In the second quarter alone, the Kangaroos took 29 marks to Richmond's eight.
North Melbourne's shift to kick & control                        Kicks    Kick differential      Marks     Mark differential
Round 10           134             +18                 39               +21
Semi Final          166             +48                 65               +33
Richmond in fact generated more inside 50s and scored more efficiently in Saturday's semi-final than it did in round 10, but it was opened up on the turnover as North Melbourne kicked 51 points - 68.9 per cent of its total score - from turnover.
By using clean, controlled movement around the ground, North Melbourne's deliveries forward proved far more effective, despite registering 35 inside 50s, exactly the same number as in round 10. By picking their way down the ground and hitting up neat targets up forward, the Tigers' defence was forced into more one-on-one battles, which was unsettling for the home side.
This season Richmond has forced poor, chaotic forward entries from its opponents, meaning its defensive line could move across and provide support to one another, but with the elite inside 50s North Melbourne was able to bring on Saturday that defensive style was simply not possible.
North Melbourne's targeted attack                   Scoring Efficiency (%)     Goal Efficiency (%)       Goal Accuracy (%)
Round 10              37.1                             8.6                             23.1
Semi Final             65.7                           31.4                             47.8
As a result, those 35 inside 50s were far more effective, with the Roos goaling from 31.4 per cent of their entries on Saturday, compared to just 8.6 per cent in round 10.
With that methodical, considered ball movement North Melbourne was able to cut through the pressured, defensive structure that has brought Richmond so much success this season, ultimately winning through to a maiden preliminary final berth.
https://www.womens.afl/news/115076/turning-the-tide-north-s-strategic-masterclass-that-broke-deadlock-with-tigers