Live: Saints start brightly against Demons as Roos edge closer to victory

They can’t tackle Latrelle Pickett! He looked like he had been run down for all money, but somehow he slipped out of Wood’s arms and found the handball to van Rooyen in the goalsquare.

The Demons have a spark here, and are loving the influence of both the Picketts so far.

Got to say, an absolutely ridiculous free kick there for Larkey right in front of goal. He took on three of them, was dead to rights holding the ball, but somehow the umpire found some high contact in it. No good.

Not that it will matter a whole lot, because the Roos deserve every bit of their lead and eventual win here today. Larkey has four goals and is loving every minute of it.

They couldn’t lay a glove on him! Curtis got the crumb and slipped through the cracks in the contest like a gecko before snapping a brilliant goal.

Again Port’s tackling and defending is poor, but Curtis was wonderful then. Back to 31, 13 minutes to play, they should be fine.

He caught Tristan Xerri holding the ball out of the ruck contest, and went back and slotted the goal.

One more Port goal and maybe the Roos get a couple of wobbles? Maybe?

That set shot goal from Durdin gets the margin back to 31 points, which is not beyond the realms of possibility at Docklands.

Would take something remarkable given the way the game has gone, but you never know.

Easy stuff for St Kilda, straight out of the middle and all the way to the goalline. The clever bit there was Sharman tapping the ball on to Ryan in the square rather than taking the ball and getting tackled.

Good start for Flyin’ Ryan.

He’s made a busy start and now he’s hit the scoreboard. Caleb Windsor might be a genuine star by the end of this season.

He found so much space out the back of that forward 50 stoppage and snapped truly.

Doing some work as St Kilda’s deepest forward, Nas slips the defence and takes an easy mark on the lead at the end of a long attacking chain out of defence by the Saints.

Good movement from St Kilda.

It’s dominant stuff from North Melbourne, who has turned a midfield dominance after quarter-time into a heavy lead on the scoreboard. They are totally outrunning and outfighting Port Adelaide, who has looked slow and soft in comparison.

I will make a confession here. My boldest preseason prediction was for Port Adelaide to make the finals, or at least the wildcard. Seriously rethinking that. They brought significantly more pressure in their preseason games than what they have provided here, and their tackling and contest work has been woeful.

By contrast North has been fierce and fearsome at times, led by the brilliant Luke Davies-Uniacke. They’ll be looking to see this out in style.

It’s day one for Stephen King’s Demons, and a new-look midfield that might take a while to gel but has the potential to be very exciting indeed. We also have two Picketts out there in Kozzie and new draftee Latrelle, who will make just about every Melbourne game watchable this year.

They’re facing the Saints, of who there are enormous expectations this season. They were beaten by the Pies in round one will expect nothing less than victory this afternoon. All eyes on Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera as always as he looks to help his side get off the mark in 2026.

Georgiades snapped that one so high that is was almost impossible to tell if the ball went through straight or not. Luke Parker didn’t think so and is still asking the question, but goal umpire has made his mind up.

Shades of Patrick Voss yesterday, just without the early celebration.

The Roos remain all over them, and when veteran forward Darling is mowing blokes down for holding the ball free kicks in front of goal, you know things are going well.

He’s been exceptional at that for 15 years now, Darling. Hardly lost a step.

They’ve been a bit lucky here Port, because North thought they had kicked two goals in the last few minutes, only for the ARC to rule them out for a touch off the boot and a graze of the post.

So it’s Durdin who is able to find the game’s next goal, his first for his new club. It’s a 37-point game, but it could be a lot worse for the Power.

He outsmarted Aliir in that marking contest and won the free kick. He also outsmarted the umpire, because he totally bought that one, holding Aliir’s arm himself and throwing himself backwards to make the point.

The set shot was never in doubt, Larkey doesn’t miss those. Back to 40 points with sevem minutes to play.

A well overdue goal for Port Adelaide, with Georgiades finding more space inside 50 than a player of his quality should ever get.

North had kicked six straight before that goal. It’s a baby step for Port.

No signs of a Port Adelaide recovery here, looks like it’s going to be a day of celebration and renewed hope for Kangas fans.

Parker is having a fine game and converted that set shot from the pocket to get the lead out to 41 points. The Roos are charging away.

The inside 50 count is fairly even, but it’s the efficiency in there that is the difference between the teams. The long and deep ball in bounced around some hands and then fell into Larkey’s arms, and he had a simple finish.

Port Adelaide’s midfield is letting itself down today, getting well and truly run over by North.

The first half couldn’t have ended much better for North, and the second has begun in just the same way. They are totally dominating centre clearances right now and scoring from them too.

The ball spilled out free towards Simpkin, who went off the ground and scooted it through from 30 out. It’s a 31-point lead, and Port are miles off it.

Kangaroos fans, get up and about!

An impressive opening two quarters gives the Roos a 25-point lead over the Power at half-time.

Five goals to two in the second term should please coach Alastair Clarkson, although the four-time premiership winner knows matches are decided across four quarters.