North Melbourne Survives Scare, But Xerri Faces Tribunal After Controversial Act
North Melbourne has secured a hard-fought victory against Essendon, emerging victorious by 12.9 (81) to 9.15 (69) at Docklands Stadium. This win marks the Kangaroos’ first triumph over the Bombers since 2016, seeing them hold a 2-1 record early in the season. However, the jubilant mood was tempered by a concerning incident involving star ruckman Tristan Xerri, which could see him facing a suspension.
The Kangaroos endured a tense final quarter, failing to register a single goal. Despite this scoreless period, their earlier efforts were enough to hold off a persistent Essendon outfit. Yet, the focus has now shifted to Xerri’s actions in the second quarter, which have been widely condemned and are expected to draw scrutiny from the AFL’s disciplinary bodies.
Xerri’s Incident: A “Horrible Look”
The controversial moment occurred after Xerri was awarded a 50-metre penalty. Following this, he was knocked to the ground by Essendon defender Archie Roberts. Shortly after, as play transitioned back towards North Melbourne’s forward line, Xerri, who had remained in the forward 50, took a mark directly in front of goal.
After successfully converting the set shot, Xerri engaged with several Essendon players, including captain Andrew McGrath. Amidst a scuffle between players from both sides, Xerri was seen wiping blood from his nose with his hand. He then proceeded to rub this blood onto McGrath’s cheek.
Former St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna, speaking on Fox Footy’s coverage, described the act as “a horrible look” and unequivocally stated that Xerri’s actions warrant a tribunal appearance and a sanction. “I certainly think that needs to go to the tribunal – he needs to cop a sanction,” Montagna stated. “It’s not acceptable and not something we’ve seen for a long time. I’m not sure what Tristan Xerri was thinking in that situation — but we can’t have that. The AFL have to set an example, and make an example of this that we don’t see anything like it happen again.”
When questioned about the incident in the post-match press conference, Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson indicated he was unaware of the details. “I don’t know anything about it,” Clarkson said.
Other AFL Results from Saturday
While the North Melbourne-Essendon clash provided the most talking point, other AFL fixtures also took place on Saturday:
- Brisbane Lions vs. St Kilda Saints: The Lions demonstrated superior class and endurance in the final term, ultimately claiming a decisive 33-point victory in a fiery encounter at Docklands.
- Fremantle Dockers vs. Richmond Tigers: Fremantle dominated the second half against Richmond, overpowering the Tigers to record a substantial 60-point win at Perth Stadium.
VFL Investigation
In separate AFL news, St Kilda youngster Lance Collard is currently under league investigation. The inquiry stems from an alleged homophobic slur directed at an opponent during a VFL match. The AFL is expected to take a firm stance on such behaviour, with potential ramifications for Collard.
