Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Not since Collingwood\u2019s Nathan Buckley back in 2002 has an AFL player been banned for such an act, but Fox Footy\u2019s Jay Clark believes the Roos big man is in hot water.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a serious misconduct charge under the AFL tribunal guidelines,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat means it\u2019ll be directly referred to the AFL Tribunal \u2013 we\u2019re looking at multiple weeks\u2019 suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n Tristan Xerri appears to wipe blood onto the face of opponent Andy McGrath.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n The moment soured what had been a great response from the Roos, who turned for home with a 36-point lead.<\/p>\n Despite going goalless in the last quarter as the Bombers mounted their fightback, the result ensures North Melbourne break their 10-year losing streak to Essendon.<\/p>\n THE 3-2-1… (what we learnt)<\/p>\n 3. ROOS SNAP 10-YEAR STREAK TO PILE MORE PAIN ON DONS<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t the prettiest of wins after a late scare. But North Melbourne has ended its 10-year losing streak against Essendon.<\/p>\n The Kangaroos recorded their first win over the Bombers since 2016 – or 3605 days ago – in a monkey off the bank as Alastair Clarkson\u2019s 2-1 side sets itself for the rest of the season. <\/p>\n Meanwhile Essendon\u2019s run of 308 days without a win continues in a 16-game losing streak dating back to last May – one short of the club record.<\/p>\n The third quarter is the period North can really hang its hat on, banging on five goals in a dominant stretch and opening up a 36-point lead.<\/p>\n And while the final 12-point scoreline over the winless and struggling Bombers doesn\u2019t read that well, sometimes you\u2019ve just got to bank the four points. <\/p>\n Clarko not content despite bounce back | 09:12<\/p>\n \u201cThis has been a really difficult period for North Melbourne in the last however many years, wins have been hard to come by. They don\u2019t care, they just want the four points,\u201d Demons great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course they can do it better and there will be things they will look at over the next coupler of days. <\/p>\n \u201cBut they haven\u2019t beaten Essendon since 2016, they wouldn\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n Aside from the result, the wins within the game is what would really please Roos fans.<\/p>\n Finn O\u2019Sullivan starred in a lockdown role on Zach Merrett. <\/p>\n Harry Sheezel, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Colby McKercher combined for nearly 100 disposals through the midfield.<\/p>\n And George Wardlaw returned from ongoing injury setbacks as the Roos finally got to see their collection of young stars together. <\/p>\n Plus Luke Parker continues to wind the clock back in a new role across half back with 33 touches.<\/p>\n 2. \u2018ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL\u2019: YOUNG ROOS STAR CLAIMS BIG SCALP IN EPIC STATEMENT<\/p>\n North Melbourne young gun Finn O\u2019Sullivan continues to raise his reputation, clamping Essendon star Zach Merrett in a decisive part of Saturday night\u2019s game. <\/p>\n O\u2019Sullivan held Merrett to only 10 disposals and the young Roo picked up 24 himself as one of his side\u2019s best. <\/p>\n It marked Merrett\u2019s lowest disposal count since Round 1 of 2018 in a game he got injured in. <\/p>\n Sam Durham looks dejected at the three-quarter time break.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a star player…. got the name called up. Happy to get the job done and the boys are so good in encouraging me in the role,\u201d he told Fox Footy post-match.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone\u2019s got to do it and I\u2019m happy to do it, especially if we\u2019re winning, nothing better. So credit to the boys.<\/p>\n The combination of the 19-year old\u2019s physicality with the ex-Bombers skipper and ability to quell him while staying involved in the game was instrumental in the win. <\/p>\n It\u2019s the sort of performance that commands attention from the footy world <\/p>\n \u201cFinn O\u2019Sullivan is playing a game on Zach Merrett, real physical with him,\u201d Demons great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the stuff. Body on body, keep your feet, win possession and away you go.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen players do jobs on opposition stars but not win footy on the manner Finn O\u2019Sullivan has.\u201d<\/p>\n Geelong champion Cameron Mooney also heaped praise on O\u2019Sullivan – the No. 2 pick in the 2024 AFL Draft – as one of North\u2019s green shoots really starting to emerge. <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s talk about one of the reasons North Melbourne is playing so well – that\u2019s Finn O\u2019Sullivan and his job on Zach Merrett,\u201d Mooney said. <\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely brilliant, he has been absolutely sensational … absolutely flying.\u201d<\/p>\n Tristan Xerri and Andrew McGrath come together in a scuffle.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n 1. BIG ROO SET TO SWEAT ON MATCH REVIEW<\/p>\n North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri will come under scrutiny for appearing to wipe his blood onto the face of rival Andy McGrath during Saturday night\u2019s match.<\/p>\n After giving up the 50m penalty, Xerri was sandwiched between Bombers McGrath and Archie Roberts and immediately dropped to the Marvel Stadium turf.<\/p>\n A shuffle moments later saw Xerri and McGrath come together \u2013 and it\u2019s where Xerri appears to wipe blood from his nose and then touch McGrath\u2019s face.<\/p>\n Fox Footy\u2019s Jay Clark described it as \u201ca moment of madness\u201d and said it could cost Xerri \u201ca couple of weeks\u2019 suspension\u201d.<\/p>\n But what is an alleged wipe of blood worth?<\/p>\n McGrath didn\u2019t react to the moment \u2013 and didn\u2019t appear to have blood left on his face.<\/p>\n We know Collingwood\u2019s Nathan Buckley copped a one-match ban for using his head to wipe his blood onto the jumper of rival Cameron Ling \u2013 but that action was more a ploy to also send Ling to the bench with the blood rule back in 2002.<\/p>\n And then-Demon Jeremy Howe copped a fine for wiping his blood from a grazed knee onto the shorts of Port opponent Tom Jonas back in 2012.<\/p>\n But not since then have we seen such an act on the AFL field.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly think that needs to go to the tribunal \u2013 he needs to cop a sanction,\u201d Leigh Montagna said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a horrible look.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not acceptable and not something we\u2019ve seen for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure what Tristan Xerri was thinking in that situation \u2013 but we can\u2019t have that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe AFL have to set an example, and make an example of this that we don\u2019t see anything like it happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n Fox Footy\u2019s Cam Mooney said it was clear Xerri\u2019s \u201cfrustration\u201d got the better of him.<\/p>\n \u201cHe would be regretting it right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of those moments you do and go, \u2018what the hell have I just done?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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