WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday, March 31, 7.45pm
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 17.9 (111) d Essendon 12.18 (90), round 13, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
North Melbourne and Essendon have always enjoyed a fierce rivalry, but this year it looks set to intensify with both clubs among those with legitimate claims to a top-eight spot. The Bombers will be looking to build on their eighth-place finish last season, but the Kangaroos will be just as keen to relinquish their two-season hold on ninth and play in the finals. Which should make Saturday night's game a fierce contest.
THE FOUR POINTS
North Melbourne
1. North will almost certainly be missing its two first-choice key defenders, with Lachlan Hansen ruled out with a minor hamstring strain and Nathan Grima an extremely unlikely starter, having not played since February 17. Luke Delaney and Cameron Pedersen head the list of possible replacements and appear the best match-ups for Bomber forwards Michael Hurley and Patrick Ryder, with versatile defenders Scott Thompson and Michael Firrito waiting in the wings if needed.
2. The other hole North coach Brad Scott will have to fill is that left by suspended midfielder Jack Ziebell. While Scott can rely on Andrew Swallow and Daniel Wells to pick up some of the slack at stoppages, third-year onballer Ben Cunnington may also be ready to establish himself as a quality AFL midfielder. Fitness was Cunnington's major weakness last year but he looks to have made significant inroads there after completing his first full pre-season.
3. Drew Petrie will play his 200th game on Saturday night and, after reinventing himself as a stay-at-home forward last season, has become the Kangaroos' most valuable player. The only negative about his 2011 All Australian season was that his teammates sometimes kicked to him too often. If Robbie Tarrant can provide another effective marking target against the Bombers, it will make North's attack less predictable.
4. Achilles tendon surgery sidelined Hamish McIntosh for all bar one game last season, but he will resume his ruck partnership with Todd Goldstein in 2012. Under the substitute rule introduced last year, both will need to rotate heavily through North's forward line. To make the partnership work they'll need to hurt opposition teams with their marking in attack and apply sufficient defensive pressure when the ball hits the ground.
Essendon
1. Essendon has won only two of its past 10 meetings with North Melbourne since famously coming from 69 points down to defeat the Kangaroos in 2001. The Bombers would like to reverse that trend to open their 2012 account, but it won't come easy if recent history against North is anything to go by.
2. Cale Hooker is set to play his 50th game for the Bombers on Saturday night, having debuted in 2008. However, the reliable defender still has some way to go before catching up with fellow defender Dustin Fletcher. The competition's oldest player enters his 20th season this weekend, equalling Ted Whitten and Michael Tuck for longevity. St Kilda's Robert Harvey is the only player to have played in more seasons (21).
3. This time last year James Hird's influence as coach was immediately obvious. The Bombers had a tighter defence, and had clearly changed their game style. But how will it look a year on in 2012? It has been hard to judge the Bombers during the NAB Cup, but the clash against the Kangaroos will give us a better idea of their 2012 game strategy.
4. There's a lot expected of Michael Hurley in 2012 and beyond after the key-position player signed a new five-year deal last week. Against North Melbourne last year he booted four goals and was Essendon's best player. If the 21-year-old can repeat that effort the Bombers would be well on their way to a winning start.
PREDICTION
North Melbourne by 17 points
Nick Bowen
The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
