THIS is one of the toughest games of the round to pick. The Eagles were brave last week away from home against Collingwood, but the reality is their four wins this year have come against the teams sitting 14th-17th on the ladder (Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, St Kilda and Greater Western Sydney). When the Roos have been good this year, they have been very good, accounting for top-four contenders Port Adelaide, Sydney Swans at the SCG and Fremantle at Patersons Stadium. But they have been bad almost as often and if they make another slow start this Sunday it is hard to see them winning in front of a hostile local crowd. However, this is the sort of challenge North has risen to this season.




WHERE AND WHEN: Patersons Stadium, Sunday June 1, 5.40pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the broadcast guide

LAST FIVE TIMES
R8, 2013, West Coast 12.18 (90) d North Melbourne 13.10 (88) at Patersons Stadium
EF1, 2012, West Coast 24.18 (162) d North Melbourne 9.12 (66) at Patersons Stadium
R15, 2012, West Coast 12.14 (86) d North Melbourne 13.6 (84) at Blundstone Arena
R6, 2012, West Coast 17.18 (120) d North Melbourne 15.5 (95) at Patersons Stadium
R1, 2011, West Coast 13.14 (92) d North Melbourne 13.10 (88) at Patersons Stadium

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THE SIX POINTS
1. West Coast has an outstanding record against North at Patersons Stadium, having won 12 of their 16 games, including the past four.

2. North is ranked fourth in the competition for uncontested possessions in 2014, averaging 231.9 a game, while West Coast is ranked ninth with 222 a game.

3. The biggest individual haul of goals kicked in West Coast-North Melbourne contests is eight by former Roo John Longmire. That was at the MCG in 1990, the year Longmire won the Coleman Medal.

4. Both teams boast strong-marking forwards, but have struggled to take marks inside their forward 50s this year. North is ranked 14th in the AFL for marks inside 50 (9.1 a game) and West Coast is ranked 15th (nine a game).

5. North has struggled in centre clearances in 2014, its average of 11.6 a game better than just two teams, Collingwood and Melbourne. West Coast is ranked 10th, averaging 12.3 a game.

6. Brent Harvey is the highest-ranked player in this game in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade. The North champion is ranked eighth overall and recorded the most points (19.7) when these teams last met in round eight last season, ahead of West Coast's Shannon Hurn (18).

Prediction: North Melbourne by seven points