Scott hails Kangaroos’ maturity

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NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has hailed the maturity of his emerging stars after they inspired their more celebrated senior teammates to a memorable comeback win over Port Adelaide.

With their normal match-winners subdued, Ben Cunnington and Levi Greenwood lead a next-generation assault that breathed new life into the Roos' season.

With Drew Petrie held goalless, Daniel Wells blunted and Brent Harvey quiet until some last quarter heroics, Cunnington, Greenwood and co. were the driving force in running down arguably the best finishing team in the competition.

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Cunnington had 30 disposals, seven tackles, nine clearances and six inside 50s in a masterful display. Sam Gibson, Brad McKenzie, Shaun Atley and Luke McDonald were also superb in a performance that bodes well for the club's future.

"For North supporters, particularly ones that watch the games really closely, I think they've seen signs from all those guys," Scott said.

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"But I've said for a while to people around the club that you'll be really proud to watch Ben Cunnington play. You've got to be patient, but you'll be really proud ... and I think all North supporters would have been proud today.

"Atley, McDonald in his third AFL game ... we're building a nucleus and I know we've been doing it for a long time, but it amuses me because who do you criticise when you lose? You criticise the leaders, you criticise the best players if they don't play well and then you go onto the next band of players. It washes off us, it honestly does.

Shaun Atley gets the better of Hamish Hartlett. Source: Getty Images

"I don't think it's a bad thing to rely on your best players - most clubs do - but you want some players to step up when they're down and our guys did that today.

"They were fantastic. All it did was really confirm what I've always thought of Ben Cunnington and he's just a terrific player in the contest and I thought he was enormous for us today. Levi Greenwood is just the player you love to coach because he's a natural competitor and he knows no other way other than 100 miles an hour at the ball.

North Melbourne players sing the song after beating Port Adelaide. Source: Getty Images

"You look at the next wave coming through of McKenzie ... he's starting to look like a genuine AFL player now. That does give you confidence that when you have your captain and vice-captain out, you've got players to step into the breach.

"I think we're starting to build a list with enough depth that when players are called upon they'll come in and do the job."

Faced with a 10-point deficit at the last change against fourth-quarter specialists, Port Adelaide, Scott said his players were "up for it".

"The response at three-quarter time was enormous. They were up for the challenge and we talked a lot about being up for moment ... and they wanted that contest in that last quarter," he said.

"I think it's a really good reference for our guys that we played a really good side. I thought (Port) played well and they outplayed us for periods of the game, but we were able to wrestle control back and to come back and get the job done; it was pretty impressive."

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