Head to head: North Melbourne six wins, Brisbane Lions 12 wins, one draw
Last time: Brisbane Lions 17.14 (116) d North Melbourne 11.9 (75), round 17, 2009 at the Gabba
MISSING IN ACTION
North Melbourne
Leigh Adams (hamstring) - 1 week
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - indefinite
Luke Delaney (broken wrist) - 4 weeks
Aaron Edwards (shoulder) - test
Brent Harvey (elbow) - test
Ayden Kennedy (stress fracture, foot) - 5 weeks
Drew Petrie (stress reaction foot) - 4-6 weeks
Ben Ross (groin/hip) - indefinite
Daniel Wells (groin) - test
Brisbane Lions
Jed Adcock (foot) - indefinite
Jared Brennan (ankle) - 2 weeks
Jamie Charman (ankle) - 4 weeks
Xavier Clarke (knee) - indefinite
Josh Drummond (knee) - indefinite
Niall McKeever (knee) - 5 weeks
Daniel Merrett (hamstring) - 2 weeks
James Polkinghorne (thigh) - TBC
FORM
North Melbourne: WLWLL
Brisbane Lions: LLLLW
SUMMARY
Have the Lions broken their form slump and recaptured their early season form? That’s the question waiting to be answered after the Lions put in a very impressive performance last weekend to send Collingwood to their second consecutive defeat.
The Kangaroos were 3-3 after six, but have lost three of their last four, although those were to Fremantle, the Bulldogs and Collingwood, all in the top five. North has had to travel home from Perth - never a good thing in terms of the following week’s performance - and were caned by Fremantle while there.
Neither side has much midfield speed, but the Lions have plenty of class. The Lions won both these games last year, and have won four of the past five against the Roos. Also, the game is at Etihad Stadium - the teams have met there six times, and the Kangaroos have only won once, back in 2000.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nathan Grima is likely to get Jonathan Brown as he usually takes the harder-leading key forward. The 24-year-old hasn't played against the Brisbane Lions, as he missed both games last year, so this will be the first time he gets to lock horns with Brown.
Jonathan Brown averages more touches against the Kangaroos (17) than against any other team, and his goals against them ranks second (3.3). The Lions say he is not injured, but his early season figures for possessions and goals are better than those from the last month, which have mirrored the team’s form line.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Lions build on last week’s terrific win over Collingwood?
Can the Kangaroos defeat the “just got back from Perth” curse? They’ve done it before.
Can the Lions backline - bereft of talls - cope with the tall Roos?
