Simonds Stadium (Geelong), Saturday, March 9, 3.45pm (AEDT)
MISSING
Geelong: Josh Hunt (illness), Dawson Simpson (back), Mathew Stokes (ankle), Jed Bews (foot), George Burbury (foot), Hamish McIntosh (knee), Nathan Vardy (groin), Daniel Menzel (knee)
North Melbourne: Nil
LAST WEEK
Geelong: The Cats put on a clinic against Adelaide at Simonds Stadium on Saturday, thrashing the Crows by 63-points. Key defender Harry Taylor was best on ground. Not only did Taylor collect 31 possessions, he also kept Adelaide forward Taylor Walker goalless. Veteran midfielder Jimmy Bartel (28 touches and two goals) was also dominant, as was James Kelly, who gathered 25 possessions and laid 11 tackles. Rookie-listed ruckman Mark Blicavs held his own against Adelaide big man Sam Jacobs, in the process adding to speculation that he could be promoted to the club's senior list for round one of the home and away season.
North Melbourne: The Roos took on Gold Coast in extreme heat in the north Queensland city of Townsville. Brad Scott's men kicked seven goals to one in the first quarter, and led by as much as 53 points, before winning by 13 after the Suns booted seven of the last eight goals. Ryan Bastinac, Ben Cunnington and Jordan Gysberts were impressive in the midfield.
WHAT THEY SAY
Geelong: "They're in form – they haven’t lost a game, and I think Petrie and Swallow will probably come back in, so they'll have a pretty strong side." – assistant coach James Rahilly
North Melbourne: "We're undefeated to this point, but we've got a really tough opponent in Geelong, who have lost two games at Simonds Stadium in about five years. The bottom line is that if we win that, we'll probably be in (the NAB Cup Grand Final)." – Brad Scott
WE SAY
Geelong: The Cats are planning to recall a number of their biggest names for the game against the Kangaroos. Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins, Steve Johnson, Joel Corey, Allen Christensen and Tom Lonergan, who all missed the demolition of the Crows, are set to return. But small forward Mathew Stokes is unlikely to line up. The ankle injury he suffered in Perth on the opening weekend of the NAB Cup is still being closely managed.
North Melbourne: The undefeated Roos should know plenty about the Cats and about how to play Simonds Stadium. The reason? The two clubs conducted four competitive training sessions against each other down at Geelong during January and February. But the biggest issue for North this week will centre around how the players that went to Townsville have pulled up. Of those who missed the clash with the Suns, forward Drew Petrie, captain Andrew Swallow, midfielder Leigh Adams and defender Nathan Grima are expected to return. Ruckman Majak Daw should also line up after knee swelling prevented him from making the trip to Queensland. Daw's battle with Blicavs should be a highlight of the game.
