Head to head: North Melbourne 12 wins, Fremantle six wins
Last time: Fremantle 21.13 (139) d North Melbourne 11.12 (78), round 10, 2010 at Subiaco Oval
MISSING IN ACTION
North Melbourne
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - 2-3 weeks
Aaron Black (hip) - indefinite
Matt Campbell (calf) - test
Majak Daw (knee) - 1 week
Cruize Garlett (calf) - test
Nathan Grima (quad) - test
Ed Lower (broken collarbone) - 3-4 weeks
Drew Petrie (foot) - indefinite
Daniel Pratt (hamstring) - test
Ben Ross (hip/groin) - indefinite
Robbie Tarrant (thumb) - 2 weeks
Ben Warren (back) - test
Daniel Wells (quad) - test
Jack Ziebell (leg) - indefinite
Fremantle
Hayden Ballantyne (foot) - 3-4 weeks
Michael Barlow (leg) - season
Kepler Bradley (knee) - test
Ryan Crowley (knee) - 3-4 weeks
Chris Mayne (ankle) - 1-2 weeks
Rhys Palmer (shoulder) - test
Clancee Pearce (knee) - test
Aaron Sandilands (foot) - 1 week
Alex Silvagni (groin) - 2 weeks
Chris Tarrant (knee) - 4-6 weeks
FORM
North Melbourne: LLWLL
Fremantle: WLWLW
SUMMARY
If Fremantle is to climb back into the top four, this is a game it must win. In the eight for all bar three rounds this season, a young team getting tired - combined with the loss of draft sensation Michael Barlow - has seen them fall into danger territory. With three teams in the eight to come - the Swans, Hawthorn and Carlton - this one is a must win.
On the other side of the coin, the Kangaroos desperately need to win if they hope to make the eight. They have been ninth since round 12, and that’s the highest they’ve been this season. With St Kilda, West Coast and Melbourne to come after this game, and sitting a game and massive percentage outside the eight, they can’t afford to drop this chance to stay in the hunt.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Josh Smith was taken with pick 62 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, and at 24 years of age, has played just 11 games. With the Roos appearing to have decided that the Lachie Hansen move to the forward line is a permanent one, a spot is there for a key defender, but with just four games remaining, there’s not much time to convince the coaching panel that he is the one.
Rhys Palmer had a knee reconstruction after round five last year and returned in the round-six derby this season. He had 31 touches in the demolition of Port Adelaide in round 14, but hasn’t passed 22 in any other match. Needs to step up with Barlow, and now Ballantyne, gone.
QUESTION MARKS
Will the alternating-result run continue? Since 2005, neither side has had consecutive wins, a good sign for the Kangaroos, given Fremantle flogged them in round 10.
Can Lindsay Thomas kick straighter than in round 10? The nippy forward booted 5.5 last time around.
Can Fremantle cope with the loss of Barlow, Tarrant and Ballantyne, who kicked six in the huge derby win last week?
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
It’s hard to see Fremantle losing this, despite their poor record at Etihad (three wins from their past 17 visits). Both sides have been struck my injury, but North has an injury list as long as your arm, which especially hurts a young team.
PREDICTION
Fremantle by 23 points
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The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
