HEAD TO HEAD: North Melbourne 48 wins, Collingwood 100 wins, two draws
LAST TIME: Collingwood 23.19 (157) d North Melbourne 14.7 (91), round seven, 2010, at the MCG
TV: Channel 10 (Melbourne 3pm, Adelaide 1.30pm, rest of South Australia 10.30pm, Sydney/NSW 2pm, Brisbane/QLD 1pm)
RADIO: Melbourne 3AW, Triple M, ABC 774, Sydney ABC 702, Brisbane ABC 612, Canberra ABC 666, Hobart ABC 936, Darwin ABC 105.7, Regional Croc
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
BETFAIR ODDS: North Melbourne $8.60, Collingwood $1.12
FORM: North Melbourne: L Collingwood: W
SUMMARY
The Kangaroos were unlucky four-point losers to West Coast at Patersons Stadium on Sunday night after being literally caught short with ruckman Todd Goldstein a late withdrawal ahead of the match, which pitted big Eagle Dean Cox against debutant Cam Pedersen. In 34-degree conditions, the match was tight all the way with just two points separating the sides at three quarter-time. Pedersen held his own and fellow first-gamer Cam Richardson was solid while Shaun Atley was a little quieter.
The Magpies showed just why they were last year's premiers for much of the first half against Port Adelaide on Saturday with Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and Ben Johnson setting up the forward line with plenty of delivery. In the third quarter, the Power fought back and got within 16 points before the Pies slammed on six goals to one in the final term to eventually win by 75 points.
QUESTION MARKS
The obvious question for the Roos is what effect will playing in searing heat on the other side of the country with the newly reduced interchange bench have on their players' recovery?
Can the Pies maintain the hunger against another side that didn't figure in last year's top eight?
Will Brad Scott adopt the one-on-one tactics Matthew Primus employed in the third quarter inside his forward 50 that made the Pies' defenders accountable and temporarily vulnerable?
Will Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell make it back from his internal injuries or will he wait another week and make sure he's right for the blockbuster against Carlton, where the Pies will unfurl the premiership flag?
PREDICTION
Collingwood by 32 points.
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Dane Swan delivered as the high-priced captain of choice with 137 points but his teammate Scott Pendlebury wasn't far behind with 121. Everyone's favourite bargain buy, Andrew Krakouer, put up a respectable score of 96 despite being subbed off in the fourth quarter but the one to watch - and possibly trade for if you don't have him already - is Robbie Tarrant, who scored 106 and was the Roos' second-highest player.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
