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North Melbourne turned some heads last week in overcoming the reigning premiers and have another test this afternoon in the Sydney Swans. Join us at 3.15pm AEST for minute-by-minute commentary and live score updates.
While the Swans are one of four teams who remain undefeated after three rounds, it is North Melbourne which is attracting much media attention due to the manner of their victory against the once-formidable Geelong.
Twin-brothers Chris and Brad Scott coach Geelong and North coaches respectively, and you could have been excused for seeing double last weekend with the ‘Catterfication’ of North’s game plan.
It came down to plenty of run and carry with no shortage of quick, intricate handball chains to create the loose man, who would then deliver with precision.
After three rounds North has the lowest kick-to-handball ratio in the competition, their primary weapon in beating the modern-game’s forward press.
The trick for the Swans is to not offer North Melbourne such an obvious route to goal, in terms of telegraphing the exact placement of their press, if they decide to use one.
Lucky for them, they have the personnel to offer a more traditional man-on-man structure, harrying the ball carrier and cutting off the receiver. This this will force North to re-adjust.
The Swans will need to ensure that North’s ball winners, such as Andrew Swallow, are not getting the ball out too easily to teammates such as Brett Harvey, who are able to set up play with pace and precision.
As long as one part of the chain is cut off, North’s dangerous forwards, such as Drew Petrie, need to work that bit harder to get hands to ball.
As far as the smalls go, Daniel Wells has been devastating near goal for North and he’ll need to be watched.
Adam Goodes will miss the game through a one-week suspension, and with that goes a fair bit of hard running for the Swans.
Sam Reid continues to take strong, contested marks in the forward 50 for the Swans, and a good conversion rate will keep the Swans on track for a win.
Both sides have some young guns in the engine room, with the Swans having Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery up against North’s Ryan Bastinac and Jack Ziebell.
Kennedy probably brings a tiny bit more strength and ball-winning ability at the stoppages and the Swans will be very happy to see the game slowed down.
Given North’s current form and the fact that Goodes is suspended, I was initially tempted to opt for the Kangaroos. But the Swans have a couple of things in their favour.
They are on their home ground, and the peculiar dimensions will assist the Swans in setting themselves up to counter North’s run and carry.
If that weren’t enough, it has been very wet in Sydney this week.
As the great Tom Hafey would say, this is not the time for too much finessing!
Watch for Sydney to do a bit of a shut-down job on North.
Favoured by the conditions, they will sneak in for a win with the margin under 10 points.
Can the Swans get up without Goodes? Find out from 3.15pm AEST as we cover the action, siren to siren, with live scores and commentary and if you’re watching, give us your thoughts in the space below.
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