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The Sydney Swans took a nine-point win over the North Melbourne Kangaroos in Hobart on Saturday, moving temporarily at least to the top of the AFL ladder.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
North Melbourne 10.16.76
Sydney 12.13.85
It’s do or die for the North Melbourne Kangaroos: a win stamps their ticket to September, but a loss puts in them in grave peril. Standing in their way? The red-hot Sydney Swans. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
The chance that North might miss the finals has been known for some time, but with a fortnight to play that chance has become a distinct possibility.
Melbourne will need to defeat the Cats in Geelong for the Roos to be ousted, but should they drop their remaining two games they’ll be watching that clash very nervously.
The Roos’ woes against top-eight sides continued last week, as they were blown out of the water very early by Hawthorn, losing by 39 points and falling to 2-7 against top eight sides in 2016.
A loss here will put them in a perilous position.
Sydney, on the other hand, have hit form at the right time of year.
After an iffy run that saw them lose three of five, before only narrowly defeating Carlton at home, the Swans’ chances of doing damage in September looked slim.
But they’ve turned it on since then, absolutely demolishing Fremantle, Port Adelaide and St Kilda the manner of a hungry contender.
With the top two likely to be decided on percentage, Sydney will be looking to slam their foot on the pedal all afternoon.
North Melbourne’s record in Hobart is formidable, with the club winning eight straight and nine of 11 overall. Sydney were, however, the last team to defeat the Kangaroos in Tasmania, triumphing by 39 points in 2013.
Sydney have won ten of the last 12 contests between these sides, including North’s first loss of the year in Round 10, although North did bundle the Swans out of September last year in the semi-final.
Prediction
As good as North Melbourne have been in Hobart, Sydney have played there before and won convincingly.
There’s a lot to play for both sides, and with a gale-force wind of form at their backs, the Swans should be too good.
Swans by 28 points