With both sides entering Friday night’s meeting at 3-4, this shapes as a must-win in the context of the season and the finals aspirations of both sides. Both have won their last two matches after stumbling to 1-4 starts. Scarcely anything separates the two teams by the numbers this year except for disposal efficiency and marks inside 50. The Kangaroos could either be haunted or fuelled by what happened in September last year at Patersons Stadium, when the Eagles won their elimination final meeting by 96 points. West Coast will likely gain some key personnel, while North Melbourne could risk Andrew Swallow and Aaron Mullett, such is the importance of this clash. The thought of Nic Naitanui and Majak Daw going head-to-head in the ruck is salivating, but will likely be a rare occurrence.
WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Friday May 17, 6.40pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
LAST FIVE TIMES
1EF, 2012: West Coast 24.18 (162) d North Melbourne 9.12 (66) at Patersons Stadium
Rd 15, 2012: West Coast 12.14 (86) d North Melbourne 13.6 (84) at Blundstone Arena
Rd 6, 2012: West Coast 17.18 (120) d North Melbourne 15.5 (95) at Patersons Stadium
Rd 1, 2011: West Coast 13.14 (92) d North Melbourne 13.10 (88) at Patersons Stadium
Rd 21, 2010: North Melbourne 16.14 (110) d West Coast 14.10 (94) at Patersons Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. This will be the 43rd clash between the sides, and West Coast holds the advantage, winning 23 times to 19.
2. These teams have never played a Friday night match at Patersons Stadium, and haven’t played on Friday night in Perth since 1994 at the WACA.
3. Both teams have been strong offensively this season; North Melbourne averages 107 points per game (fourth in the league), West Coast averages 106 points (fifth).
4. Not much separates the sides defensively either; West Coast has conceded an average of 94 points per game, North Melbourne 98.
5. North Melbourne has the best disposal efficiency this season in the competition at 73.2 per cent, while West Coast is ranked second-last at 68.8 per cent.
6. West Coast is ranked second this season for marks inside 50, North Melbourne is ranked 11th.
