We missed our opportunity: Laidley

NORTH Melbourne coach Dean Laidley believes his team missed its opportunity in more ways than one as it suffered a disappointing loss to Essendon in its season-opener at Telstra Dome.

While the final margin of 55 points indicates one-way traffic, the Kangaroos in fact dominated the game’s early exchanges and perhaps missed their chance to kill off what started out as an Essendon revival but turned into a red and black juggernaut.

North Melbourne could only watch as the young Bombers stormed away with a convincing 19.8 (122) to 9.13 (67) win.

While the four points were all-important for his team’s 2008 campaign, Laidley was also ruing the lacklustre showing given the fact such a large number of Kangaroos fans had turned out on Easter Monday to watch their side kick off their year.

“It is disappointing to lose,” Laidley said.

“I think we had [a crowd of] 48,000 here today and I think we sold over 1,000 memberships, so you know that gets you even closer to 30,000 [memberships].

“From that aspect it’s disappointing.”

North Melbourne had led by as much as 27 points early in the second quarter and looked in control of the match, especially when Bombers forward Scott Lucas hobbled off with a serious knee injury.

But while Essendon slowly began to claw its way back on the scoreboard in the second term the Kangas wasted their opportunities, missing several kickable shots at goal.

“I think we hit the post five times for the day,” Laidley said.

“In that period of time (in the second quarter) I think they got a goal from a free kick and a couple out of the stoppages and you know, it evens itself up pretty quickly.

“I think David Hale was probably one of the main culprits … I think he kicked three points maybe in the first quarter and a half.”

The Kangas did lose Corey Jones (concussion) early in the day after he collided with teammate Nathan Thompson, throwing out the side’s attacking set-up.

Laidley acknowledged the opposition also lost a key forward although the Kangas coach believed Essendon might have functioned more efficiently after Lucas left the field.

“Perhaps that might have helped the Bombers a bit better than us losing Corey because I thought that Lloyd … it looked like he was enjoying it.”