Roos pip Dogs in Dome classic

Brad Johnson missed his chance to realise every schoolboy's dream when his missed shot after the siren ensured North Melbourne celebrated Brent Harvey's 250th game with a thrilling three-point victory at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

In a match befitting of a final, the Kangaroos, in front of nearly 35,000 fans, showed all their trademark fighting spirit to reel back a four-goal deficit at half-time and prevail 16.17 (113) to 16.14 (110).

Johnson ensured a dramatic finish when he goaled at the 25-minute mark. Adam Simpson then loomed as the villain when his clearing kick, aimed at Harvey, missed the target and sailed out of bounds on the full.

The resulting free kick landed in the hands of Cameron Wight, sparking a chain of possessions which resulted in Johnson marking with one second remaining.

But Johnson's set shot from about 40 metres out drifted out to the right sparking euphoric scenes both on and off the field.

Coach Dean Laidley sprinted to his team to share in the celebrations in an act of emotion rarely seen in the modern game by coaches.

And he had reason to as the Kangaroos were again rewarded for their courage and refusal to concede.

Encapsulating this spirit was the man of the moment Harvey. Aided by two trainers, the man they call Boomer had stumbled off the field in the opening minutes of the first quarter dazed and confused after a heavy knock.

However, Harvey recovered to not only boot the goal of the night later that quarter but to also kick the goal which delivered the Kangaroos the lead in the final term for the first time since just prior to the end of the opening term.

In between, the Bulldogs had appeared the more likely of the two teams to win.

They had withstood charges by the Kangaroos in each of the first three quarters to lead by close to four goals and appeared the smoother and slicker of the two sides. But this was one for substance over style.

The Kangaroos, willed by Hamish McIntosh in the ruck, refused to go away.

After Harvey put his team in front in the last term, Jason Akermanis, one of the architects of the Bulldogs' early charge, gave his side back the lead before goals to Ed Lower and Drew Petrie put the Kangas nine points up approaching time-on in the last quarter.

The match appeared North's for the taking but the Bulldogs, who had not lost prior to this game, almost conjured an escape out of jail.

It was a cruel blow for Johnson, who earlier this season was victorious in his 300th game after Nathan Bock missed his chance for glory after the siren. But on this occasion he was left with the sour taste of defeat.

WESTERN BULLDOGS: 5.3, 11.7, 14.10, 16.14 (110)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 5.3, 7.7, 12.11, 16.17 (113)

GOALS: Western Bulldogs: Akermanis 4, Johnson 3, R Murphy 3, Minson 2, Cooney, Gilbee, Hahn, Welsh
North Melbourne: Thompson 4, Petrie 3, Harvey 2, Campbell, Harding, Harris, Jones, Lower, McIntosh, Rawlings
BEST: Western Bulldogs: Akermanis, Cooney, Johnson, Cross, Griffen
North Melbourne: McIntosh, Rawlings, Harding, Thompson,
INJURIES: Western Bulldogs: TBC
North Melbourne: TBC
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Stevic, Nicholls, Ryan
CROWD: 34,971 at Telstra Dome