AFL season 2016: Veteran Roos deflate Lions’ pride

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.3 8.8 13.13 17.15 (117) BRISBANE LIONS 2.7 4.11 7.12 11.17 (83)
Goals: North Melbourne: J Waite 5, B Brown 3, B Harvey 2, N Dal Santo 2, S Gibson 2, D Petrie, J Ziebell, T Goldstein. Brisbane Lions: D Zorko 2, J Green 2, L Taylor 2, C Beams, J Walker, R Lester, T Bell, T Rockliff.
BEST North Melbourne: Waite, Wells, Ziebell, Harvey, Brown, Jacobs. Brisbane Lions: Taylor, Hanley, Zorko, Bewick, Martin.
Injuries: North Melbourne: S Thompson (soreness) replaced in selected side by L Hansen, K Turner (hamstring) replaced in selected side by B Jacobs. Brisbane Lions: D Rich (hamstring), T Rockliff (calf).
UMPIRES: Chris Kamolins, Mathew Nicholls, Curtis Deboy.
CROWD: 18,021 at The Gabba

It's probably too early, and too late, to suggest the eternal puzzle that is the 33-year-old Jarrad Waite has been solved. There have been too many false starts, too many injuries and suspensions, too much promised and too little delivered after 184 frustrating games with Carlton between 2003 and 2014. 

Stop right there: Stefan Martin of the Lions is tackled by Jarrad Waite of the Kangaroos. Photo: Getty Images

But he played 24 games and kicked 45 goals in his first season with North Melbourne last year, and his late-career renaissance appears to be continuing. Against the Brisbane Lions, he turned in a wonderfully complete performance, running tirelessly, presenting constantly, and five goals was a well-deserved reward. 

Waite wasn't the only veteran in rare form. It was particularly pleasing to see Daniel Wells back at his creative best. Brent Harvey, 412 games and counting, would still walk into any team in the competition and Nick Dal Santo (in his 303rd) kicked two third-quarter goals that all but put the Lions away. 

But North fans needn't get carried away. Earlier in the match, the Lions were outplaying the Roos – their ball movement was quick, and Josh Schache is finally giving them a genuine target to kick to. He's not dominating yet by any means, and can't be expected to, but everything he does is clean and he makes multiple contests. 

Getting physical: Josh Walker of the Lions and Robbie Tarrant of the Kangaroos indulge in a bit of biffo. Photo: Getty Images

The problem was, it wasn't in his hands often enough. Schache is a beautiful kick. The same can't be said of his teammates. The Lions had the chance to win this game early, and they squandered chance after chance to do it. If they weren't missing goals, they were fumbling the ball in transition or handing it straight back to the Kangaroos. 

They were also running on about half a team. To half time, Daniel Rich, who's just signed a five-year deal, had three touches. Captain Tom Rockliff had five, including one kick. Former Carlton recruit Tom Bell had four; Sam Mayes had three. Lewis Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Pearce Hanley, and Rohan Bewick kept them afloat. 

Of course, they were missing Dayne Beams and Mitch Robinson, both of whom would have given them some extra grunt and leadership in the middle. But coach Justin Leppitsch won't be using their absence for excuses because the game was there for the Lions' taking with a little more skill, more composure, and even contribution. 

What's next?: Sam Gibson of the Kangaroos ponders his options as he gets a bit of space. Photo: Getty Images

The Kangaroos weren't exactly slick themselves, but they were more than good enough to take advantage of the plethora of opportunities their opponents handed them. And alongside the ageing Waite and Drew Petrie, Ben Brown, who kicked three, continues to develop into a forward to be reckoned with. 

Waite finished his game with a superb mark at full stretch and his fifth goal, which was also his 50th for the Kangaroos. Petrie kicked the game's last major, making for nine goals kicked by the visitors' key forwards. The Lions' fragility in defence, now sadly minus the retired Justin Clarke, will be a season-long problem. 

But of more immediate concern is the form of some of their prime movers. Rich's seven disposals was a career low, blanketed by Sam Jacobs. Tom Rockliff, one of the game's statistical titans, finished with 10; Mayes' seven is nowhere near enough for a player of his talent.