Head to head: West Coast 19 wins, North Melbourne 18 wins, no draws
Last time: North Melbourne 17.14 (116) d West Coast 13.13 (91), round 3, 2010 at Etihad Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
West Coast
Mitch Brown (groin) - season
Sam Butler (foot) - season
Bradd Dalziell (finger) - season
Darren Glass (abdomen) - season
Ash Hansen (hip) - test
Shannon Hurn (hamstring) - test
Brett Jones (fractured cheekbone) - season
Daniel Kerr (hamstring) - season
Mark Nicoski (shoulder) - season
Matt Priddis (ankle) - test
Adam Selwood (AC joint) - 1 week
Brad Sheppard (AC joint) - 1 week
North Melbourne
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - indefinite
Aaron Black (hip) - indefinite
Todd Goldstein (calf) - 1 week
Ed Lower - (broken collarbone) - indefinite
Jamie Macmillan (calf) - test
Drew Petrie (foot) - indefinite
Ben Ross (hip/groin) - indefinite
Robbie Tarrant (thumb) - test
Jack Ziebell (leg) - indefinite
FORM
West Coast: WLLLL
North Melbourne: WLLWL
SUMMARY
It’s been a heartbreaking fortnight for West Coast, which lost to the Brisbane Lions with the last kick of the game in round 19 and fell one point short of Port Adelaide last week.
The last-placed side has lost 11 of its last 12 games, including the last four, and injuries to established players continue to mount. Nonetheless, there were improved signs against Port.
North Melbourne ran into St Kilda on the rise last week and left pondering a 52-point defeat. The Roos have lost five of their last seven games to slip six points adrift of eighth-placed Hawthorn, and they will know if their slim finals hopes are alive at the conclusion of the Hawks’ clash with Fremantle on Saturday. Regardless of that result, they will have plenty to play for in skipper Brent Harvey’s 300th AFL game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
The Eagles have high hopes for young midfielder Luke Shuey, and he showed why in his first game back from a long lay-off with glandular fever. Shuey, who has played four AFL games in two injury-ruined seasons, had 10 of his 18 possessions and kicked a classy goal in West Coast’s final-quarter fight-back.
North Melbourne premiership player Brent Harvey will celebrate a superb career on Sunday with his 300th game, but the four-time All-Australian is hopeful he has more to give. The 32-year-old will become the fourth Kangaroo to reach the milestone, stamping himself as one of the champions of the game.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Harvey receive a genuine tag this time around or the half-tag that allowed him to rack up 44 possessions against the Eagles in round three? Chris Masten has been touted as an opponent.
Can West Coast muster one last effort after two heartbreaking weeks? With a trip to the Cattery in round 22, this appears the club’s last chance to steal a win in 2010.
How will the Hawthorn-Fremantle result affect North leading into the match? It’ll be an empty feeling if things don’t fall their way.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
West Coast may well end up fielding 40 of its 46 players by the end of this season as late-season injuries force youngsters into the side and into key roles. Too many quality players will be missing on Sunday for the Eagles to topple a Kangaroos side that should be willing to do anything to salute a club great in his milestone game.
PREDICTION
North Melbourne by 20 points
Chat with host Chris Pike and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 2.40pm AWST Sunday or join the conversation on Twitter: #afleagleskangas
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
