It’s a difficult assignment this afternoon for North Melbourne, who travel to Paterson Stadium to play the in-form Fremantle Dockers. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 3.20pm AEST.
It has been a disappointing season so far for the Kangaroos.
They’ve lost four games by under a kick this year, including the after-the-siren loss to West Coast a couple of weeks back, but they will feel confident that they can go with the Dockers in this one.
The Dockers will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak to eight (having won six and drawn one), the second-longest streak in the club’s short history.
Fremantle will also be confident this week with news that star forward Michael Walters has been brought back into the line-up pending a fitness test on Friday, after he suffered an ankle injury in Round 8 against the Swans.
This will be a boost for Fremantle especially as Aaron Sandilands and Matthew Pavlich are still recovering from their respective injuries.
The Dockers have shown no signs of missing their star players this year however piecing together a nice defensive display each week and they are currently the league’s best team in defence letting in on average a miserly 70 points a game.
Keep in mind though that the Dockers only average 90 points a game and are ranked 13th in this category.
North Melbourne’s defence is ranked ninth conceding on average 93 points a game; their attack on the other hand has some firepower averaging 104 points a game, which is the sixth best in the league.
It will be interesting to see how the Kangaroos deal with Fremantle’s defensive pressure.
Forward Lindsay Thomas was out of sorts before the bye against the Gold Coast and will be keen to hold onto or extend his Coleman Medal lead, and expect Drew Petrie to give Zac Dawson a few headaches.
Expect the game to be won in the midfield. Fremantle’s Michael Barlow has been in Brownlow form averaging 26 disposals for the season and 32 a game over his last three games he has been red hot, in a Fremantle team that has shared the load.
Interesting to note the last three games between the two sides have been blow outs:
R22, 2012: Fremantle 20.12 (132) d North Melbourne 12.7 (79) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2011: North Melbourne 21.17 (143) d Fremantle 6.9 (45) at Etihad Stadium
R4, 2011: Fremantle 18.19 (127) d North Melbourne 14.14 (98) at Patersons Stadium
If Fremantle is to beat North Melbourne it would be the first time since 2004-5 that a team has won consecutive games between the two, with both teams winning 4 a piece since 2007.
In my view it will be hard for North Melbourne to win this one; Fremantle is up and about this year and are a serious premiership contender. My heart says Fremantle by 5 goals.
Prediction: Fremantle by 32
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I thank you for your time this afternoon, whilst the footy wasn't the best spectacle, it was a good hard contested game.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Some more stats: Possessions Freo 363 - North 345 Tackles Freo 74 - North 80 Inside 50's Freo 47 - North 36 Marks inside 50 Freo 11 - North 6
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yes will be interesting the Barlow incident was really innocuous.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Well after this game you would say North's season is over they have been there but have been unable to string anything together, to be brutally honest they never looked like they would pinch this game despite looking threatening. Fremantle will be happy as to how the start of their season has unfolded and with some stars to come back they look in good stead. There will be some injury clouds over Mundy (late withdrawal today), Barlow (cheekbone) who didn't play the last 8 minutes and Hill's shoulder which happened with 5 minutes to go and be didn't return. Lindsay Thomas' hamstring will also be another talking point, he had a dirty day and will be one he will want to forget. Fremantle's defensive pressure is by far the best in the league, they simply choke their opponent till they have nothing left to give Ross Lyon has the Purple army up and going. If Freo can beat Geelong next week they are well and truly up there as a premiership contender.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Haha I wish, quite funny maybe someone is trying to tell them they got the Cats next week, I thought 10 goals would be about right. I watched a lot of Saints footy when Ross was the coach. I reckon Freo is better overall then the Saints were.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Possession leaders: Freo: Barlow 31, Fyfe 28, Ibbotson 27, McPharlin 24. North: Swallow 32, Bastinac 29, Gibson 23 Goals: Freo: Suban 2, Fyfe, Johnson, De Boer, Barlow, Crozier, Hannath, Mayne, Walters. North: Black, Harvey, Macmillan, Mullett.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Would say the fact that North never scored consecutive goals was a telling point.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
He was the wizard putting it through.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Terrible luck for an injury struck Fremantle.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Congrats on your 10 goal prediction - seems rather prescient now.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Just couldn't put it on the scoreboard at all it was a dirty day for them.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
"there is a cat on the field" Is this some sort of euphemism?
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Not sure, he looked to grab his shoulder and then there was no more word on it, he and Barlow could be under a cloud this week.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
4.5 over an entire game...
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Atley finds Swallow 50 out and he sends it to Petrie who sends a high bomb up in the air and out on the full and there is controversy as there is a cat on the field with 16 seconds left. That's the final siren, as the Freo song rings over Patersons Stadium The dockers run out 10.7.67 to 4.5.29 on a dirty day for the Roos who could lose Brent Harvey. As he and Crowley are still having words after the siren, there is bad blood there.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
Any more news on this?
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Wells from 50 out sums up his day and kicks it out on the full, it's sad to say but North's season is over.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Fyfe mops up and finds Clarke who has been huge this game, the kick however can't be marked and North clear, not for long. Both Walters and Ballantyne just tried to take mark of the year, the stint is well and truly out of this one. North 29 - Freo 67 2:02 remaining.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Hill is off with an injury to his shoulder as Zac Clarke and Petrie have a tussle.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Fyfe wins another clearance and finds Ballantyne who takes off and is caught! No he gets legged and will go back to put some icing on the cake. It's offline, no score and Petrie yes Petrie makes on the last line of defence.