SUMMARY
North Melbourne will deservedly enter Sunday's game warm favourites. The Roos have not lost to Melbourne since 2006 and will ride a 14-game winning streak into this latest clash. North has also made its best start to a season since 2005, recording impressive wins over Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. Melbourne will be determined to rebound from a flat performance against Essendon last round that prompted coach Paul Roos to ponder whether his players had gotten ahead of themselves after a strong pre-season and the round one win over Greater Western Sydney. The Demons' ability to give a better account of themselves against North will reveal much about how far they've improved since last season.
A dejected Jesse Hogan after the Dees' loss to Essendon. Picture Getty Images
WHERE AND WHEN: Blundstone Arena, Sunday, April 10, 1.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R19, 2015, North Melbourne 19.13 (127) d Melbourne 14.8 (92) at the MCG
R23, 2014, North Melbourne 19.9 (123) d Melbourne 14.9 (93) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2014, North Melbourne 15.17 (107) d Melbourne 10.6 (66) at the MCG
R18, 2013, North Melbourne 22.18 (150) d Melbourne 4.4 (28) at Etihad Stadium
R18, 2012, North Melbourne 19.13 (127) d Melbourne 11.7 (73) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Lindsay Thomas kicked five goals and Shaun Higgins had 31 disposals and two goals in the Kangaroos' win over the Demons in 2015. North also had 20 more inside 50s and 10 more scoring shots than Melbourne.
2. North comfortably defeated the Brisbane Lions last Saturday, but took fewer marks (67-76), laid less tackles (46-51) and had less inside 50s (49-51) than the home team.
3. The Demons were dominated by Essendon in several statistical counts in last Saturday's shock loss, losing disposals 316-444, uncontested possessions 179-313, marks 68-139 and inside 50s 41-56. They also conceded 14 marks inside their defensive 50, with Bomber spearhead Joe Daniher taking nine of them.
4. North has been impressive recently at Blundstone Arena, winning its past six games. The Roos have a 7–2 record at the Hobart venue and haven't lost there since round three, 2013. Melbourne will be playing its first game in Hobart since 1952.
5. In the teams' past 14 clashes, the Kangaroos have averaged 116 points a game to the Demons' 73, while the Roos have scored 100 points or more in the past 10 of those games.
6. North has four players ranked higher in the Schick AFL Player Ratings than Melbourne's top-ranked player, Nathan Jones at No.75: Todd Goldstein, No.4, Brent Harvey, No.11, Nick Dal Santo, No.40, and Ben Cunnington, No.51.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Jesse Hogan. The star-in-the-making was well held in the first three quarters against Greater Western Sydney in round one and had a shocker last Saturday against the Bombers. Hogan kicked just one goal against Essendon and was roundly criticised for his poor body language during the Demons' 13-point loss. If Melbourne is to kick a winning score against North, Hogan will likely have to lead the way. To do so, he'll have to rediscover the 2015 form that made him the AFL's most exciting young spearhead.
PREDICTION: North Melbourne by 17 points
