PERHAPS we shouldn't read too much into it, but when North Melbourne took the field at Carrara Stadium in white shorts last night, it was hard not to view it as a final statement: Queensland was not, and never would be, the Kangaroos' home.

Even the atmosphere was unsympathetic, with an unseasonal pre-game thunderstorm doing its best to further dampen what felt like an exhibition match between two visiting teams: the final crowd of 6354 was a bit over half that at other recent games at this ground. And in a final insult, one of the light towers blacked out during the final term and stayed out.

No one could say the Kangaroos and Eagles didn't come to play, though. Those who stayed away missed a marvellous contest, with many momentum shifts and lead changes. The gutsy Roos prevailed, but it could easily have been a draw.

David Hale was a leader all night for North, with three goals and a big late mark in defence when the game was in the balance. Shannon Grant and Daniel Wells provided spark at ground level, while Adam Simpson was his usual workhorse self.

The Eagles' season is surely now as dusted as coach John Worsfold already predicted. Dean Cox was tireless with 30 hitouts and 24 disposals, while Brent Staker faded after a brilliant opening to finish with three.

Despite the earlier rain, the match opened as a shootout, with nine goals kicked in an entertaining first quarter of swift, end-to-end football.

After a sluggish first eight minutes in which the ball remained anchored in West Coast's forward line and Wells limped off with a leg injury, the Kangaroos took control with four goals in 10 minutes.

They were boosted by Wells' return and vibrant contributions from midfield veterans Grant, Brent Harvey and Simpson as they opened up an early break.

But the pendulum swung back towards West Coast, which hit back hard with successive majors to Quinten Lynch, Jaymie Graham and Ryan Davis, the latter with his first kick in AFL football after coming off the rookie list earlier in the week.

While Hale's second goal took North to quarter-time with a five-point buffer, West Coast gained control in the second quarter, the Shinboners letting their opponents back into the match via some embarrassing turnovers.

Josh Kennedy was dominant at centre half-forward, setting up several opportunities and kicking a goal himself. He may not be Chris Judd, but he will be a fine player for the Eagles for many years to come.

Staker was having a fine match, with 14 possessions and two goals for the first half, while Cox conducted a ruck masterclass for the benefit of Hamish McIntosh, Drew Petrie and Hale.

Staker soccered through his third goal minutes into the third term to put the Eagles 21 points clear, but when the previously unsighted Corey Jones followed up his own smother to snap truly, the momentum shifted once more, and the Kangaroos came again.

With Cox sweeping in the back line, Hale and Nathan Thompson bobbed up with their third and second goals respectively, and a gift free kick to Simpson close to the siren enabled the Roos to snatch the lead back at the final change.

Lindsay Thomas was invisible for the Kangaroos all night until a magnificent hanger early in the final term, but it was a game-breaking goal by his counterpart Matthew Campbell that secured victory.


NORTH MELBOURNE 5.2 7.2 11.8 13.11 (89)
WEST COAST 4.3 9.5 10.7 12.11 (83)
GOALS: North Melbourne: Hale 3, Thompson 2, Grant 2, Harris, Harvey, Jones, Simpson, Wells, Campbell. West Coast: Staker 3, Lynch 2, Kennedy 2, McKinley 2, Davis, Stenglein, Wirrpanda.
BEST: North Melbourne: Simpson, Grant, Hale, Harris, Wells, Harvey. West Coast: Cox, Fletcher, Staker, Kennedy, Wirrpanda, Embley. INJURIES: North Melbourne: Obst (punctured lung).
REPORTS Harvey (NM) reported by field umpire Vozzo for tripping Priddis (WC) in the third quarter.
UMPIRES: Donlon, Vozzo, Kamolins.
CROWD: 6354 at Gold Coast Stadium.

THE UPSHOT
Wherever the Kangaroos play, they aren't going to die wondering. Although they were up and down all match, they still did enough to get the points in a match a lesser side would have let slip. This year, the Eagles are that lesser side, having well and truly lost their recent indomitability.

TALKING POINT
Can the AFL persist in allowing the Kangaroos to fulfil their commitments at Carrara? In the end, the crowd of 6354 was slightly more than forecast, but if it wants to promote the code on the Coast, it is surely unlikely that North Melbourne will be back in 2009.

HOT AND COLD
Both teams would have claims to this category. In a game of oscillating fortunes where first the Kangaroos then the Eagles would dominate for long stretches, the quality veered accordingly from attractive to schoolboy level, depending on your point of view.