North Melbourne and Sydney Swans will both be looking for a win at Blundstone Arena this afternoon. Join our live blog with scores and commentary from 1.45pm AEST.
The Kangaroos will desperately be looking for a win to kick-start their season after losing close games to premiership contenders Collingwood and Geelong in the first two rounds.
It won’t get any easier this week though, with the undefeated Swans looking to continue their dominant streak against North.
Sydney hasn’t lost to the Kangaroos since 2007 and had a comfortable 36-point win in their only encounter last season.
But despite their respective win-loss records, North Melbourne will be confident because of their high standard of play this season.
Their first round loss to Collingwood was only by 16 points after the Kangaroos were outscored by 19 points in the third quarter.
Against Geelong North Melbourne took a 35-point lead in to halftime before the Cats kicked seven goals against them in the third term.
North will certainly have to be stronger in the ‘premiership quarter’ if they are to capitalise on the strong starts they’ve had this year.
Meanwhile, this will be the first real test for Sydney. While the Swans have been forced to lift during matches against GWS and Gold Coast, North Melbourne will pose a much more difficult challenge.
The two expansion teams have played solid football this year but the Kangaroos know this game is important if they plan on figuring in finals again this year.
Lindsay Thomas looks to be the danger man for North. Having kicked 9.2 this year he’s the early leader in the Coleman Medal and has been dangerous at the feet of North’s tall forward line.
Nick Smith has previously been underrated but showed his ability against Cyril Rioli in the grand final and John Longmire will look to him to stop Thomas.
For Sydney Kieren Jack has been in good early season form. With Jack, Josh Kennedy, Jarrad McVeigh, Dan Hannebery, Adam Goodes and Ryan O’Keefe running through the Swans’ midfield it will be interesting to see if North Melbourne choose to tag anyone.
They were burnt by Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury after the pair was left to run largely by themselves in round one so Brad Scott may be unwilling to continue this tactic.
Rhyce Shaw looks to be in doubt with an abdominal strain. His run from the backline is crucial for Sydney’s counterattacking style.
Shane Mumford copped a knock to the knee against Gold Coast but should be fit for Saturday’s match.
Can North Melbourne find their first four points of the season, or will the Swans return to the Harbour City 3-0? Find out from 1.45pm AEST and if you’re following along, leave us your thoughts in the space below.
Andrew Sertori
Roar Rookie
Still plenty left to improve on for sydney, morton kicked 11 in the reserves, reid jetta and mumford can all lift for a start. Tippett will free reid up
Alan
Roar Guru
Ah Sydney, they give you a sniff then BANG, gone. What a third quarter. Not at their best but they have not needed to be....
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Sydney 20.11.131 North Melbourne 13.14.92 Sydney comprehensive winners today. North started well but yet another seriously disappointing third quarter. Kennedy and Jack were really good for the Swans while Ted Richards shut Petrie down completely. Swallow and Cunnington were good inside while Wells and Mullett were good in the first half but fell away. North is 0-3 now and have a lot of work to do if they want to make the finals from here. On the other hand, Sydney is primed for another premiership assault
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 0.05 Sydney 20.11.131 North Melbourne 13.14.92 GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Thomas kicks a great goal from just inside 50 screwing the kick around his body
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 0.52 Sydney 20.11.131 North Melbourne 12.14.86 GOAL SYDNEY McGlynn's tackle wins a free kick against Firrito in Sydney's forward 50. He passes it off to Luke Parker and the Swans kick a goal
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 2.05 Sydney 19.11.125 North Melbourne 12.14.86 BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE Wright breaks a couple of tackles and his long kick to the Hansen contest spills through for a behind
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 2.20 Sydney 19.11.125 North Melbourne 12.13.85 GOAL SYDNEY The Swans work it from the centre clearance and get it to Hannebery who gets the quick response
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 2.40 Sydney 18.11.119 North Melbourne 12.13.85 GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Thompson wins the one-one-one and plays on quickly. Works it in to the corridor and the ball ends up with Cunnington who lines up for a show 35m out on an angle. He kicks it to cap off a reasonable game. The Roos haven't had enough of that type of free-flowing play today
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 5.20 Sydney 18.11.119 North Melbourne 11.13.79 GOAL SYDNEY Parker's kicks it to Goodes who beats Grima in the one-on-one. There's another for Sydney
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 6.10 Sydney 17.11.113 North Melbourne 11.13.79 GOAL SYDNEY Goodes chips it in to O'Keefe who goes back and slots it for the Swans
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 7.00 Sydney 16.11.107 North Melbourne 11.13.79 Petrie did brilliantly against two and North were able to work it in to an open forward line. Thomas and Smith in a foot race but Smith just bumped him out at the right time. Smith showed real pace there
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 8.30 Sydney 16.11.107 North Melbourne 11.13.79 Sydney just playing well when it matters. Far too professional for North
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 10.30 Sydney 16.11.107 North Melbourne 11.13.79 Wright dropped an uncontested mark in the middle of the ground. Bad one to drop
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 11.33 Sydney 16.11.107 North Melbourne 11.13.79 BEHIND SYDNEY McGlynn kicks a point from 50m out. The Swans have slowed North down a little. Starting to win more contests
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 13.05 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 11.13.79 Bird's been subbed on for Everitt. Sydney wouldn't mind a steadying goal
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 13.05 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 11.13.79 GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Good play from North. They worked it from one side of the ground to another and Thompson chips it in to Sam Wright, who squeezes it through
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 15.15 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 10.13.73 BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE Armstrong stuffs up the kick-in but Sydney's able to rush through another behind. He's not taking the next one
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 15.26 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 10.12.72 BEHIND NORTH MELBOURNE Hannebery rushes it through
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 16.05 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 10.11.71 GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Macmillan kicks one from outside 50 and the Roos have back to back goals. Surely the comeback's not on?
Dinny Navaratnam
Roar Guru
Fourth quarter 16.43 Sydney 16.10.106 North Melbourne 9.11.65 GOAL NORTH MELBOURNE Petrie takes a good overhead grab and kicks it over the top of Sydney's defence. Hansen runs on to it and kicks the goal