AFL round 14 live updates: Roos pile on goals against Magpies in first-half demolition

Alright, and we’re off in the second half. Will the Magpies be able to mount another infamous comeback or will the Roos be able to hold the momentum?

Finn Macrae has been subbed out of the second half with Reef McInnes on as the Pies look for a spark.

That was a brilliant half of football from North Melbourne. They deserve their eight goal lead as they have outplayed Collingwood.

Leading the charge has been George Wardlaw who plays with the heart of former Roos champion Wayne Schimmelbusch while Luke Davies Uniacke and Harry Sheezel have been outstanding too.

Their half-time score of 14.2 (86) is their highest score of the season and their highest half-time score since round 10, 2013 when they kicked 13.10 (88) against the Saints.

The only highlight for the Magpies was a mark of the year contender from Bobby Hill. His teammate Lachie Schultz is being assessed for concussion.

Collingwood’s team contains just 11 of their premiership 22 but no-one saw this coming and North Melbourne are providing the exciting football their fans have been yearning.

North Melbourne just reached their highest score of the season, with 81 seconds left in the first half. It’s their best first-half score since 2013.

It’s hard to believe this is the lowest-placed side taking on the reigning premiers.

Roos by 48 at HT.

Collingwood just can’t keep up with North Melbourne to save their life at the moment.

The Kangaroos are having an absolute field day, as Harry Sheezel kicked his second of the day to give his side a game-high lead of 42 points. Well, before Cameron Zuurhaar made it 48.

The Roos’ are kicking goals faster than I can type at the moment.

For the first one, Luke Davies-Uniacke expertly got the ball inside 50, and worked with Cameron Zurhaar to weave around Pies defenders, before a entering kick got it to Sheezel. Sheezel with a one-hand grab to beat out his defender, mind you.

Then Zurhaar took a great pack mark deep inside 50, and easy as you like, put it through the big sticks.

Meanwhile, Lachie Schultz is back on the ground after getting a head assessment.

Roos by 48.

Collingwood fans would have loved to see that. Put that straight on Bobby Hill’s highlight reel.

The Magpie absolutely flew in a pack mark to take a grab right in the goal square. He finished it off with his side’s sixth goal of the day.

Let’s take you through that Hill mark. It was at the “Gary Moorcroft” end of Marvel Stadium and he had the double lift-off over Billy Framptom and Charlie Comben.

He then went back and kicked the goal. That is the mark of the year contender.

Unfortunately for the Pies, Tristan Xerri responded with his second of the afternoon.

Roos by 36.

Bailey Scott booted the Kangaroos’ 10th goal of the day, from outside the arc, with a very tidy kick. Then, ruckman Tristan Xerri wanted to join the party with a huge goal from the boundary.

North Melbourne fans, are you not entertained?

Making things even worse for Collingwood, pivotal defender Jeremy Howe copped a hit to the nose and has come off due to the blood rule. Assuming he’ll be patched up and back out there soon.

Roos by 36.

This is a lot more of a battle now, rather than that opening-quarter walkover.

Lachie Schultz booted his second goal of the day, an important one for Collingwood, but then immediately came off and went straight down to the rooms.

All of Collingwood’s goals so far have come from passages of play that originated in their defensive half, while the Kangaroos have had 23 inside-50-metre entries to 14.

Roos by 24.

In each of the past two games a defender has been called back for handballing rather than kicking the ball in.

No wonder some players say they are confused about rules if they don’t know that basic rule. The Kangaroos needed that goal but the Magpies are still sloppy.

Cameron Zurhaar has booted his first goal of the day from 50 metres out to end Collingwood’s run of three goals. It keeps North ahead by five goals as they sustain their buffer in this match.

Roos by 30.