Head to head: Fremantle 5 wins, North Melbourne 12 wins
Last time: North Melbourne 14.14 (98) d Fremantle 12.13 (85), round nine, 2009 at Etihad Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
Fremantle
Greg Broughton (foot) - 3-5 weeks
Des Headland (knee) - 5 weeks
Luke McPharlin (knee) - 7-9 weeks
Brock O'Brien (quad) - 7 weeks
North Melbourne
Leigh Adams (hamstring) - 1-2 weeks
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - indefinite
Luke Delaney (broken wrist) - 5 weeks
David Hale (back) - test
Ayden Kennedy (stress fracture, foot) - 6 weeks
Hamish McIntosh (shoulder) - test
Drew Petrie (broken foot) - 1 week
Ben Ross (groin/hip) - indefinite
Robbie Tarrant (hip) - test
FORM
Fremantle: WWWLW
North Melbourne: WWLWL
SUMMARY
In beating the Swans at the SCG by 37 points in round nine, Fremantle proved two crucial things - it can keep Michael Johnson’s rolling off-field saga separate, and it can cover injuries to key players. Luke McPharlin (knee) and Greg Broughton (foot) are laid low, but they were hardly missed against the Swans as Freo controlled the contest and won its fourth match in five games. A Friday-night loss to Collingwood is the side’s only recent blemish, as the outstanding form of captain Matthew Pavlich, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and a host of blossoming youngsters keeps the side in third place.
North Melbourne, after a 70-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round nine, has no such form to speak of. The Kangaroos conceded seven unanswered goals in the fourth quarter against Adelaide a week prior and were lucky to escape with a nine-point win, while a 66-point loss to Collingwood rounds out their past three weeks.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nat Fyfe has proved the perfect replacement across half-forward for the injured Des Headland, and he was rewarded with a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for his outstanding performance against the Swans. The classy youngster had 23 possessions, seven marks and five tackles.
North coach Brad Scott was forced to defend niggling defender Scott Thompson this week after he ruffled some feathers with his provocative tactics against Barry Hall. Will Thompson maintain his antagonistic ways against Freo?
QUESTION MARKS
Will Fremantle be forced to change a winning mix after three tough games and a pair of short breaks?
After playing six of nine games at Etihad Stadium so far this season, how will North adjust to Subiaco Oval and the elements this week?
