SUMMARY
North Melbourne will be a huge test for a wounded Geelong. The Cats are likely to be without veterans Jimmy Bartel, Mathew Stokes, Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie. Despite their brave win against the Gold Coast, the Cats are not playing great football. What they are doing is becoming more comfortable with each other as they integrate new faces into the line-up. The Kangaroos are also likely to be weakened if Jack Ziebell misses with a bruised lung, but if they are to be genuine top four contenders they must win. The midfield is where they can gain the ascendancy, even though Nick Dal Santo is missing and Daniel Wells remains under a cloud. Round five, 2007. proved the catalyst for Geelong's era of success. Could this game spark North Melbourne to follow a similar path?
WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Sunday April 26, 3.20pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
2SF, 2014, North Melbourne 14.14 (98) d Geelong 13.14 (92) at the MCG
R19, 2014, Geelong 16.15 (111) d North Melbourne 10.19 (79) at Etihad Stadium
R19, 2013, North Melbourne 15.6 (96) d Geelong 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2013, Geelong 16.16 (112) d North Melbourne 17.6 (108) at Etihad Stadium
R3, 2012, North Melbourne 20.11 (131) d Geelong 16.18 (114) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. In the three games played between the two teams in 2014, the winning side was at least four goals in front at the main break.
2. Geelong continues to struggle in clearances. After three rounds they're ranked 18th averaging only 32 per game while North Melbourne is 14th at 36 per game.
3. Since 2008 the Cats have dominated clashes between the two teams, winning eight games to three, but North Melbourne beat Geelong in the second semi-final last season. .
4. North Melbourne's season has been inconsistent – a loss by 77 points, a win by 82 and a loss by eight points, average score of 100 points and average score against of 101.
5. North Melbourne's most recent win at Simonds Stadium was in round five, 2007. It has lost eight of its past nine games at the venue.
6. Cats skipper Joel Selwood has been impressive in contested possession in 2015 ranked 4th with 50 contested possessions while the Kangaroos Ben Cunnington leads his club sitting at equal 10th in the AFL with 41.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Jarrad Waite. The talented former Blue has started in spasmodic fashion with North Melbourne, but he has the capacity to make a real difference. He needs to stretch Geelong's defence to make Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas dangerous and give North Melbourne's defenders a get-out kick when under defensive pressure.
PREDICTION: North Melbourne by 17 points
