'Roos beat Port, fan lunges at Motlop
Crowd misbehaviour is again an issue in the AFL after a North Melbourne fan made contact with Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop.
A fortnight after a fan racially abused Hawthorn star Lance Franklin in Launceston, on Saturday a supporter appeared to push or punch Motlop to his upper arm at Etihad Stadium.
North Melbourne posted their first win of the season by 60 points against a listless opposition, belting the Power in the second half to win 18.25 (133) to 10.13 (73).
Motlop had just kicked his third of four goals early in the third term and was near the boundary fence behind the goals at the Lockett, or northern, end of the ground when the incident happened.
"Obviously Mots copped it a bit from the crowd, I'd be disappointed if that has happened," said coach Matthew Primus, who added he did not see the incident.
"We'll take it up further with whoever we need to - I thought he showed some restraint today."
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said: "If that's happened, that's disappointing - players should play and supporters should support."
In an eventful match, North Melbourne forward Lachie Hansen was stretchered off the field in the last term after a nasty collision with the fence, also at the Lockett end.
Hansen kicked a goal on the run and then fell forward, his head cannoning into the signage behind the goals.
He was immobilised and then taken to hospital with a sore lower back.
"He didn't look too good, he's pretty sore ... I don't know exactly what that means until we get some scans," Scott said.
The 'Roos coach added Hansen had full movement in his fingers and toes.
Two days after the AFL announced their billion dollar-plus TV rights deal, several players from the two teams will also further swell the league's coffers.
There are certain to be fines after a three-quarter time melee.
But that was a rare occasion where the Power showed enough passion.
Port have now lost to the bottom side for the second straight week, following last week's historic first win for Gold Coast.
The statistics were damning - North smashed them 75-40 with inside 50s, 60-37 in tackles and 273-178 with uncontested possessions.
"You could say a lack of hunger, effort, want, attitude - whatever you want to call it," Primus said.
Scott had never questioned his team's effort as they lost four games to start this season, but their ball use especially had let them down.
Goalkicking accuracy remains a concern and, although small forward Lindsay Thomas broke his run of 14 straight behinds, he still finished with 1.6.
"We got the result today, but I'm still very conscious we have some things we really need to keep improving on," Scott said.
"It was a pretty dominant performance in most areas."
Todd Goldstein, Brent Harvey and Andrew Swallow starred, while North's three youthful inclusions all impressed.
Kieran Harper made his senior debut as Jamie Macmillan and Ben Speight played their first senior games this season.
Hamish Hartlett and Dean Brogan were rare shining lights in a terrible Port performance.
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