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The last ticket to September is up for grabs as the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Port Adelaide Power clash in a late-season belter. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).
As impressive as North Melbourne’s 9-0 run to start the season was, the harsh reality is they’ve failed to pass the test in every one of their recent clashes with the top sides.
Injuries have played a part, but with five losses in the last six games, the minor premiership is now well out of the Roos’ reach, and a finals berth, while likely, is now no longer a guarantee.
North were wasteful in an otherwise gallant loss to Hawthorn, but were uncompetitive against Sydney, Geelong, Adelaide and West Coast.
They need a convincing win this week to get things back on track.
But where the Roos have proved their naysayers right, Port Adelaide have proved their admirers wrong.
With a return to the top four talked of, but at least a return to the top eight expected, the Power find themselves three games outside the eight with seven matches to play.
Port have not defeated a top eight side all year, and after losing three of their first five, have alternated between two-game winning and losing streaks.
Their scintillating 2014 campaign looks, now more than ever, like a flash in the pan.
Port Adelaide enjoy a narrow lifetime winning percentage in the AFL, although their overall record against North Melbourne is appalling. The Kangaroos have won a whopping 21 of 30 clashes between these sides, including six of eight at Etihad Stadium.
Prediction
As much as North Melbourne have struggled in recent weeks, Port Adelaide have not demonstrated any consistency for almost two full seasons.
Neither side deserves favouritism, but at the comfort of home, the Kangas should be able to get the job done.
Kangaroos by 14 points