While sides continue to lose around them, it gets harder and harder for the Kangaroos to stay in touch with every defeat.
Some experienced faces should return for the team from Arden Street, but the opponent doesn't get any easier with Fremantle coming off a 75-point smashing of fierce rivals West Coast.
The Dockers had 11 individual goal kickers in their rout over the Eagles, and with Ballantyne and Pavlich wreaking havoc up front it promises to be a huge challenge for Brad Scott's boys.
kangaroos.com.au looks at how the two teams match up for their clash at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Games played: 18 - North Melbourne 12, Fremantle 6
Coaches: Brad Scott (NM) 18 games, Mark Harvey (FREM) 69 games
Captains: Brent Harvey (NM) 297 games, Matthew Pavlich (FREM) 231 games
2010 debutants:
North Melbourne - Ryan Bastinac, Ben Cunnington, Nathan O'Keefe, Robbie Tarrant, Ben Speight, Jamie MacMillan, Marcus White
Fremantle - Dylan Robertson, Anthony Morabito, Nathan Fyfe, Jesse Chrichton, Justin Bollenhagen, Michael Barlow
Departures:
North Melbourne - Josh Gibson, Daniel Harris, Sam Power, Matt Riggio, Adam Simpson, Jesse Smith, Shannon Watt, Michael Wundke
Fremantle - Andrew Browne, Adam Campbell, Marcus Drum, Andrew Foster, Daniel Gilmore, Josh Head, Brett Peake
Avg. age (start of 2010): North Melbourne 22 years 195 days, Fremantle 23 years 53 days
Avg. games (start of 2010): North Melbourne 43, Fremantle 58
Most experienced player: Brent Harvey (NM) 297 games, Chris Tarrant (FREM) 233 games
Tallest: Hamish McIntosh (NM) 203cm, Aaron Sandilands (FREM) 211cm
Shortest: Matt Campbell (NM) 170cm, Hayden Ballantyne (FREM) 174cm
2009 placing: North Melbourne 13th (7 wins, 14 losses, 1 draw), Fremantle 14th (6 wins, 16 losses)
Leading goal scorer 2009: Drew Petrie (NM) 27, Matthew Pavlich (FREM) 28
Best and Fairest 2009: Andrew Swallow (NM), Aaron Sandilands (FREM)
The last five:
Round 10, 2010 - Fremantle 21.13.139 def North Melbourne 11.12.78
Round 9, 2009 - North Melbourne 14.14.98 def Fremantle 12.13.85
Round 12, 2008 - Fremantle 18.12.120 def North Melbourne 9.13.67
Round 15, 2007 - North Melbourne 12.10.82 def Fremantle 11.12.78
Round 8, 2006 - Fremantle 13.6.84 def North Melbourne 6.13.49
Last week:
North Melbourne 10.12.72 lost to Western Bulldogs 22.11.143
Fremantle 24.16.160 defeated West Coast 13.7.85
Leading possession winners 2010: Brady Rawlings (NM) 489, David Mundy (FREM) 393
Leading goal scorers 2010: Lindsay Thomas (NM) 28, Matthew Pavlich (FREM) 52
Dream Team specialists: Andrew Swallow (NM) 1759, Aaron Sandilands (FREM) 1761
Please note: Level 3 will be closed at this week’s game. Roos supporters are urged to gather at aisles 26-30 at the Northern (Lockett) end of the ground.
