North Melbourne v St.Kilda
Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara
Saturday, 28 June, 2008 – 7.10pm

Whichever way you look at it, this is a crunch game for both sides. North, with a 6-1-6 win/draw/loss record and a percentage of 94.7, sit 8^th on the Toyota AFL Premiership Ladder. And St.Kilda, with a 6-7 record and a percentage of 95.9, sit 9^th on the ladder. It is a classic eight-point game. And, depending on other results in the split 14^th Round, the winner will most probably be in the eight. Tipping a winner is difficult. Following are some of the statistics that matter.

Summary: Started the season impressively with back-to-back wins over Sydney and Carlton but since have gone 4-7, beating only Essendon, Richmond, Melbourne and Fremantle. Are 0-3 interstate, having lost to Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney.

Quarter by Quarter: Saints have won 24 of 52 quarters. They’ve won the 1^st quarter in 9 of 13 games, but won the 2^nd quarter just 3 times, the 3^rd quarter 5 times and the 4^th quarter 7 times.

Scoring: Saints ranks 13^th in the League in points for (ave 90.8) and 6^th in points against (ave 94.6).

Players: Saints have used 37 players in 13 rounds – the most in the competition.

Leading Goal-Kickers: Stephen Milne (27), Nick Riewoldt (24), Justin Koschitzke (19), Adam Schneider (11), Fraser Gehrig (9).

Leading Possession-Winners: Lenny Hayes (296), Sam Fisher (283), Luke Ball (282), Leigh Montagna (266), Nick Dal Santo (264).

Centre Clearances:  Lenny Hayes (68), Luke Ball (57), Nick Dal Santo (37), Leigh Montagna (28), Steven King (22).

One-Percenters: Max Hudghton (79), Sam Fisher (58), Jason Blake (52), Brendon Goddard (42), Jason Gram (36).

Goal Assists: Nick Riewoldt (14), Leigh Montagna (9), Justin Koschitzke (9), Stephen Milne (8), Luke Ball (7), Nick Dal Santo (7), Robert Harvey (7).

Played Every Game: 5 – Luke Ball, Sam Fisher, Jason Gram, Lenny Hayes, Leigh Montagna.

 

Summary: Have paid a high price for two bad losses to lowly Essendon by 55 points) in Round 1 and to Fremantle by 58 points in Perth in Round 12. Otherwise, have been at least the equal of any side, and have claimed some big scalps – Collingwood by 7 points in round 5, Western Bulldogs by 3 points in Round 9 and Hawthorn by 27 points in Round 13. And they had a draw with Sydney in Round 6.

Quarter by Quarter: The Roos have won 26 of 52 quarters. Their best has been the 3^rd quarter which they’ve won 9 times. They’ve won the 1^st quarter 7 times, but the 2^nd quarter just 4 times and the 4^th quarter 6 times.

Scoring: The Roos ranks 11^th in the League in points for (ave 95.5) and 10^th in points against (ave 100.7).

Players: Roos have used 35 players – more than all except St.Kilda (37), Fremantle (36), West Coast (36), Essendon (36) and Melbourne (36).

Leading Goal-Kickers: Nathan Thompson (25), Matt Campbell (21), Corey Jones (21), Lindsay Thomas (20), Shannon Grant (17).

Leading Possession-Winners: Brent Harvey (317), Adam Simpson (309), Daniel Harris (256), Brady Rawlings (244), Drew Petrie (209).

Centre Clearances: Adam Simpson (64), Daniel Harris (56), Brady Rawlings (30), Brent Harvey (28), Hamish McIntosh (28).

One-Percenters: Shannon Watt (54), Drew Petrie (53), Josh Gibson (52), Michael Firrito (45), Daniel Pratt (38).

Goal Assists: Daniel Wells (12), Matt Campbell (11), Brent Harvey (11), Shannon Grant (9), Adam Simpson (8).

Played Every Game: 8 - Matt Campbell, Michael Firrito, Daniel Harris, Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Brady Rawlings, Adam Simpson, Lindsay Thomas.

 

Oddly, the sides have met 142 times over the years for 70 wins apiece and 2 draws. Last time they met at Telstra Dome in Round 11 last year North won 11.14 (80) to St Kilda 8.10 (58).

Koschitzke, Adam Schneider … all are capable, some are match-winners, but form and fitness remain the question marks.