Head to head: Carlton 94 wins, North Melbourne 52 wins, no draws
Last time: Carlton 14.10 (94) d North Melbourne 11.18 (84), round 18, 2009 at Etihad Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
North Melbourne
Leigh Adams (hamstring) - test
Liam Anthony (shoulder) - indefinite
Aaron Black (hip) - indefinite
Luke Delaney (wrist) - 3 weeks
David Hale (back) - test
Ayden Kennedy (foot) - 4 weeks
Drew Petrie (foot) - indefinite
Ben Ross (hip/groin) - indefinite
Marcus White (adductor strain) - test
Carlton
Dennis Armfield (quad) - test
Paul Bower (quad) - test
Chris Johnson (wrist) - 3 weeks
Kane Lucas (hamstring) - test
Rhys O’Keeffe (back) - indefinite
Simon White (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Chris Yarran (thigh) - test
FORM
North Melbourne: LWLLW
Carlton: WWLWW
SUMMARY
Both teams are coming off a win, but Carlton is carrying better form into the clash. The Blues were challenged in the third quarter by Melbourne in the wet at the MCG on Saturday, but powered away to a 41-point win to make it four wins in the past five weeks.
North Melbourne came off two heavy defeats going into last weekend's game against the Brisbane Lions, but you wouldn't have known it at half time when the Roos led by six goals. The Lions came storming home, getting their noses in front late, and it took a wobbly old effort from Levi Greenwood in the last minute to seal a thrilling victory.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lachie Hansen, the third overall pick at the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, has taken some time to develop, but the Roos' investment in the key-position prospect looks set to start paying dividends. After playing most of the year down back he was thrown forward against the Lions and showed flashes of brilliance.
Talented, if occasionally troubled, utility Ryan Houlihan has been playing a defensive forward role for much of the season and has excelled. He's much more than a stopper and forces his opponent to respect him going the other way as evidenced by his four-goal effort against the Dees.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Kangaroos tidy up their second-half efforts? They've let their opponents in their two wins in the past month right back in the contest with bad fadeouts.
Can the Blues make it three wins in a row? Brett Ratten has bemoaned his side's mental lapses that have cost them in a few games they should have won.
