SUMMARY
Having overcome a fired-up Melbourne by five points in a thrilling shootout, North Melbourne returns to Etihad Stadium to face a desperate Dockers outfit. Fremantle is 0-3 for the first time under Ross Lyon and another loss would be a hammer blow to the finals hopes of last year's minor premiers. Freo was better in the Western Derby after reverting to a more familiar defensive playing style, but the 33-point defeat was compounded by broken ribs and a collapsed lung suffered by ruckman Aaron Sandilands. It leaves Lyon with a major headache in the form of the Roos' star big man Todd Goldstein, who is coming off a five-goal haul. North has topped the 100-point mark in all three games so far and if the Dockers can't lock the game down, they could be blown away under the roof.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, April 17, 4.40pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R21, 2015, North Melbourne 14.10 (94) d Fremantle 12.11 (83) at Etihad Stadium
R8, 2015, Fremantle 17.13 (115) d North Melbourne 5.12 (42) at Domain Stadium
R6, 2014, North Melbourne 10.14 (74) d Fremantle 8.13 (61) at Domain Stadium
R13, 2013, Fremantle 10.7 (67) d North Melbourne 4.5 (29) at Domain Stadium
R22, 2012, Fremantle 20.12 (132) d North Melbourne 12.7 (79) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Dockers could really feel the pain of losing Sandilands against North. The giant ruckman was best on ground with 43 hit-outs, 14 disposals and two goals last time the teams met. Roos counterpart Todd Goldstein was almost as good with 28 hit-outs, two goals and 15 touches, earning two Brownlow votes.
2. North and Freo are an extreme contrast in terms of scoring. The Roos are averaging 120 points a game (second best in the AFL) while Freo is averaging just 65 points (third worst).
3. The Dockers have never lost four consecutive games under Ross Lyon, the club hasn’t lost four in a row at any time since the last four games of 2011 and as a senior coach Lyon has lost four in a row only once, early in his first season in 2007.
4. The Roos have dominated Freo at Etihad Stadium, winning five of the six meetings. North holds sway overall, too, with 16 wins from 26 clashes.
5. Freo's one-time clearance advantage has deserted them this year. The Dockers are ranked 14th (32.3 per game) while the Roos are ranked second, averaging 42.
6. Star ruckman Goldstein climbed one spot to third overall, his highest ever position in the Schick AFL Player Ratings, after booting a career-best five goals and winning 38 hit-outs in the Roos' five-point win over Melbourne.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Jonathon Griffin. Fremantle's 201cm big man is set to be called up to replace Aaron Sandilands after two solid WAFL performances, but faces a monumental task curbing the influence of the best ruckman in the land, Goldstein.
PREDICTION: North Melbourne by 21 points
