Etihad Stadium, Friday, February 22, 6.45pm AEDT
THE MISSING
Melbourne: Captain Jack Trengove and key forward Mitch Clark are both recovering from foot injuries and won't be available, along with utility Rohan Bail (concussion) and ruckman Max Gawn (knee).
North Melbourne: Forward Leigh Adams, who is recovering from post-season shoulder surgeries, is the only notable omission in a strong line-up. He remains on track to play at some stage in the NAB Cup.
Richmond: Nathan Foley (Achilles tendon), Dylan Grimes (hamstring) and Sam Lonergan (ankle) will be sidelined, while Jake King is another significant absentee for the Tigers.
Listen below to AFL.com.au's Ashley Browne preview Friday night's NAB Cup action
LAST YEAR
Melbourne: The Demons beat the Brisbane Lions but were shown up by Gold Coast in their NAB Cup openers last year. They went on to beat Collingwood in round two, but lost all momentum on the eve of the season with Hawthorn and then Port Adelaide handing Mark Neeld's team heavy defeats.
North Melbourne: The Kangaroos beat Richmond by three points and suffered a 25-point loss to Hawthorn in their opening matches last year. They travelled to Sydney in round two and fell 17 points short of the Swans in round two before wins against the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.
Richmond: The Tigers beat Hawthorn but lost to North Melbourne in round one last season, suffering a heavy defeat against Fremantle in round two. An impressive 59-point win against Geelong in round two was followed by a 74-point win over Greater Western Sydney.
WHAT THEY SAY
Melbourne: "We've got to put this [tanking affair] behind us and that's part of our rationale with this, is that we need clear air. Our guys and our new football department, our new players, our squad needs to be able to go out on Friday and create some of our own history." – president Don McLardy
North Melbourne: "You want to play your best footy against other oppositions, and it’s not like an intra-club where you’re not going into packs. Hopefully we have a good hit out. There’s going to be a few tired boys out there. No matter how much running you do in the pre-season, you always seem to blow up in the first 10 minutes." – Robbie Tarrant
Richmond: "It’s still pretty daunting when you come into your first proper AFL game, but the NAB Cup is a good experience. You get a feel for who you’re playing with, your teammates . . . it’s good." – forward Brett O'Hanlon
WE SAY
Melbourne: Given this week's events and the cloud hovering over Melbourne the entire pre-season, on-field action should come as a relief. In Jack Viney, Jimmy Toumpas and Jesse Hogan, there will be plenty of young talent on show to boost the Demons faithful.
North Melbourne: The Kangaroos look set to play a strong side from the outset and pre-season momentum could be valuable in a year in which the Roos expect strong improvement from its young list. Port Adelaide recruit Ben Jacobs will be one to watch in his first game with his new club.
Richmond: All eyes will be on the Tigers' off-season recruits in Chris Knights, Troy Chaplin and Aaron Edwards. The list has been topped up and fans will expect to see an outfit ready to break the club's finals drought.
