SUMMARY
The urgency increases this week for these finals aspirants, both of whom are smarting from losses last round that were disappointing for different reasons. The Pies, in suffering their first loss in two months at the hands of West Coast at the MCG, missed an opportunity to join league leader Richmond on 12 wins, while an impressive North Melbourne was pipped at the post by Sydney in a thriller. The absence of Collingwood big man Mason Cox was telling, and his availability would boost the Pies enormously. Darcy Moore made an encouraging return in defence and he'll need to play a key role in limiting the influence of North forwards Ben Brown and Majak Daw. The midfield battle will be pivotal with Roos combination Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington taking on Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, neither of whom played to their usual lofty standards against the Eagles.
WHERE AND WHEN: MCG, Saturday July 21, 1.45pm
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
LAST FIVE TIMES
R20, 2017, Collingwood 16.15 (111) d North Melbourne 7.15 (57) at Etihad Stadium
R18, 2016, North Melbourne 18.16 (124) d Collingwood 12.12 (84) at Etihad Stadium
R9 2015, Collingwood 17.10 (112) d North Melbourne 14.11 (95) at the MCG
R5, 2014, Collingwood 13.15 (93) d North Melbourne 8.10 (58) at the MCG
R23, 2013, North Melbourne 19.11 (125) d Collingwood 17.12 (114) at the MCG
THE SIX POINTS
1. Collingwood has had the better of North Melbourne recently, winning six of their past nine encounters, including three by more than 50 points.
2. Nothing separates the sides at the MCG with 14 wins apiece and one draw. However, Collingwood has won four of the past five on the hallowed turf, with the Kangaroos' most recent victory there almost five years ago.
3. Both are high-scoring teams – the Magpies are ranked fourth for goals scored (216 at 13.5 a game) and the Kangaroos are fifth with 208 at 13.
4. North is the best first-quarter team this season, winning 10 and establishing a differential of +121 points, while the third quarter is Collingwood’s best (+75).
5. The Magpies remain the highest disposal team this season, averaging 408.3 a game – still the only side averaging more than 400 – while the Kangaroos are 15th.
6. Shaun Higgins late-career surge continues, with the North Melbourne midfielder climbing to a personal-best ranking of No. 33 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. The 30-year-old is the third-highest ranked Kangaroo.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Magpies star Steele Sidebottom appears to be on his way to a second successive club best and fairest, but in the loss to the Eagles last round he had his quietest game in perhaps two years, with his lowest kick tally (seven) in five years. Top-liners like Sidebottom rarely put in two below-par performances in a row, so expect him to be back to his normal productive self against North.
PREDICTION: Collingwood by 9 points
