The Melbourne v North Game Is Bringing Back The Biff

Spot fires everywhere


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The Melbourne v North Melbourne game at the MCG descended into spot fire fighting in the second term, with Triple M’s Mark Howard describing it as "one of the more spiteful quarters you’ll see".

North’s Shaun Higgins kicked proceedings off by throwing a jumper punch that caught Clayton Oliver in the face in the first quarter.

Oliver hit the deck and a scuffle broke out between several players.

The quarter time break didn’t cool anything down, with tempers flaring again several times in the second quarter.

There were many spot fires — mostly centred around Higgins and Bernie Vince — that culminated in Ben Cunnington appearing to punch Vince in the stomach.

Vince appeared to be winded and had to go to the bench struggling to breathe.

Howie described the hit as a “genuine punch”, and boundary rider Michael Roberts agreed.

“The one there with Cunnington and Bernie Vince I think was a right little punch in the lower stomach area,” Robbo said.

“He (Vince) went to his knees and started dry reaching, and then he was on the bench for a good minute trying to recover and get it back, so he got him, he got him when he was relaxed.”

Demon Christian Salem will also be in hot water for an elbow to Higgins' face.

The game has some serious heat in it and will hopefully be cooled by the half time break, but one thing is for sure — the MRP will be looking at many incidents very closely.

21 May 2017




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