The North Melbourne Kangaroos have the chance to seal their place in the finals when they meet the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:10pm (AEST).
If other results go their way and there’s a good chance they might, North could even go a long way to sealing fifth or sixth spot thus ensuring a home final in the first week of the finals.
But they are up against a young feisty Bulldogs team, that apart from two heavy losses to Port and Hawthorn, have been very competitive the last two months, with wins against the Pies and the Suns and narrow losses against the Cats and Bombers.
The biggest question for this match though is which North Melbourne will turn up to play, as the Roos have been one of the most unpredictable teams of the competition this season.
Will it be the good Roos, which have beaten the Swans, Eagles and Dockers on the road as well as the Hawks a few weeks ago at Etihad. Or will it be the bad Roos that gets blown away a young Suns team at home or dominates the first fifteen minutes of the game against the lowly Lions, then falls asleep to kick only six more for the remainder of the game.
Even last week against the injury riddled Giants the Roos put up a lethargic first half before pulling away to an easy 75-point win. Intensity is the key to the Kangaroos, especially in the midfield where at times players go missing for long periods.
The Bulldogs also have been inconsistent but more understandable with a younger team. When they are up and running the Bulldogs can mix it with the best with their exciting combination of run and flair. Midfielders Luke Dalhaus and Tom Liberartore have been outstanding this season along with the emergence of Jackson Macrae but at times there’s been too little support.
The Bulldogs also lack good talls in the forward line that can take marks, and it’s little surprise that they rank 16th in marks inside 50. They bring back forward Jarrod Grant this week to help them in this area and give support to youngster Jake Stringer who has kicked bags of five and four goals in the last three weeks.
The Dogs have also missed inside midfielder Mitchell Wallis the past couple of weeks and is out injured for the rest of the season. His attack on the ball and his ability to tag the most dangerous opponent have taken the edge off the midfield and too many times they have failed to apply enough pressure.
Prediction:
The Kangaroos have too much to play for to let this one slip, and with their most talented midfielder returning in Daniel Wells, along with their most prolific this season in Levi Greenwood, the Roos will be looking to extend their recent good run against the Bulldogs. The Roos have won four of their last five against the Dogs including a 29-point win in round two this season.
But as the Lions and the Suns have showed this season a fast midfield can trouble the one paced Roos midfield, Wells returning will help but the Roos will need to ensure the good Roos turn up for this one.
North by 19 points
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Comfortable win in the end by North running out 50 point winners. Disappointing finish by the Dogs after seriously challenging the Roos in the second quarter. But the Roos took control in the second half kicking nine goals to three. Captain Andrew Swallow was superb with 30 possessions including ten clearances. Ably supported by Sam Gibson (29 disposals) and the evergreen Brent Harvey (23). North also would have been happy with Daniel Wells’ return to senior footy, gaining valuable match practice three weeks from the finals. Wells finished with 18 disposals but may face a nervous wait this week after his should seemed to connect with Shaun Higgins’ jaw in that last quarter. For the Dogs poor starts to the first and third quarters cost them dearly, conceding the first four goals of both quarters. They lifted their pressure and intensity in the second quarter but just couldn’t sustain and in the end were overrun by the Roos. Captain Ryan Griffin was gallant once again in his 200th game finishing the game with 30 disposals. Dogs' fans also would have been thrilled with Marcus Bontempelli's performance which included 23 possessions, eleven in a dominant second quarter midfield display. In the end a good win by the Roos, very solid second half. Their only concern beside Wells, was their second quarter lapse. Can't afford to do that if they wish to succeed come finals time. Thanks for joining us today at theroar.com. Keep roaring!!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
McDonald finds Cunnington again , this time on the lead. North has found a new forward!! Siren sounds as Cunnington kicks his fourth and North runs out 50 point winners FINAL SCORES NM 17 9 111 WB 8 13 61
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Cunnington takes another mark in the forward line and makes no mistake for his third. NM 16 9 105 WB 8 12 60 Q4 1m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
North again go forward..Gibson involved again, off to Gibson to Cunnington...too easy , another goal to North. NM 15 9 99 WB 8 11 59 Q4 4m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
7 mins remaining...North by 33 points, comfortably in control now.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Wells' shoulder collects Higgins....looks very groggy
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Adams subbed in for the Roos in place of Ziebell
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Gia on again as sub, this time for good, replacing Minson.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
North break away from defence, Petrie through the middle finds Thomas...short pass to Cunnington in the pocket. Makes no mistake, hard to see the dogs coming back from here. NM 14 6 90 WB 8 11 59 Q4 12m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From the bounce Dogs go forward...off the hands off Crameri, Cooney takes possession and snaps a quick reply. NM 13 5 83 WB 8 11 59 Q4 16m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Ball up in north's forward goal square, Goldstein snatches it out of the air and snaps for a goal!! Too easy there. NM 13 5 83 WB 7 11 53 Q4 16m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
North kicked the first four goals of the game and again kicked the first four of that third quarter. The young Dogs unable to maintain the same pressure that they applied in the second quarter. Swallow taking charge again and has 24 possessions, ably supported by Gibson and Bastinac with 20 and 19 disposals respectively. Kudos as well to Ben Brown who had three marks that quarter and had a hand in their first two goals of the quarter. Scott Thompson been superb across half back. Dogs need to lift this quarter and need to kick the first couple to have a chance. 4th qtr under way....
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME and the Roos lead by 24 points at the last change. NM 12 5 77 WB 7 11 53
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Giansiracusa on as sub whilst Roughead is assessed for concussion.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
2 minutes remaining Dogs need another.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Dogs away again, Bontempelli to Libba, left foot snap ....marked one handed by Stringer in the pocket next to behind post. Kick hits the post. NM 12 5 77 WB 7 10 52 Q3 3m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Stevens runs through the centre...long to full forward...Dalhaus off the pack runs into open goal for the Dogs second in a minute. NM 12 5 77 WB 7 9 51 Q3 4m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bontempelli in the middle off to Hunter who kicks to Crameri inside 50...interferred with, against Thompson. Crameri kicks it from 40m out. Badly needed. NM 12 5 77 WB 6 9 45 Q3 5m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
thomas from the wing finds Black. Pass to Petrie who will line up near the boundary 30m out. Misses... NM 12 4 76 WB 5 8 38 Q3 9m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Thompson on the wing goes long to full forward....off the pack Harvey licks off the ground for another goal. four goals to nil this quarter, exactly like the first qtr. NM 12 3 75 WB 5 7 37 Q3 11m remaining