Red hot ladder leaders the Fremantle Dockers will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to the season to eight games when they take on the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Domain Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm (AEST).
The ninth-placed Roos have won their past two matches against the Tigers and the Bombers, and will have confidence from being only one of two teams last year who defeated the Dockers on their new home ground.
Sam Gibson and veteran champion Brent Harvey were the heroes for the Roos that night, but they face a much tougher task this time around missing three key midfielders in captain Andrew Swallow, Daniel Wells and Nick Dal Santo.
The Roos will also have to cope with the loss of tall forward Ben Brown, who has down well this season averaging two goals a game and providing a good target up forward.
There’s no worse team to face with a depleted midfield than the rampant Dockers. Their midfield has been dominant so far this season led by Brownlow favourite Nat Fyfe, who will play his 100th game. Fyfe leads the league in average contested possessions per game, and is third in inside 50s, possessions and effective disposals.
He also averages 27 disposals a game against North, the best of any team he has faced. However the Dockers are far from a one-man band in the midfield and Fyfe has been ably supported by David Mundy, Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill, Danyle Pearce and Michael Barlow.
Fyfe, Mundy and Neale all rank in the top dozen players in the league for effective disposals.
Prediction
North ruckman Todd Goldstein could hold the key to this game. He’s had a good year so far and his ability to negate the influence of Docker giant Aaron Sandilands will be more crucial than ever with North’s depleted midfield.
Full back Scott Thompson also has a crucial role to try and stop champion Matthew Pavlich who has kicked nine goals in the past two games. Thompson will be hoping for support from Lachie Hansen who took 14 marks against the Bombers last week roaming across half back.
The Dockers will need to ensure Hansen is held more accountable than he was last week where he was given far too much freedom, many times playing the loose man in defence.
Dockers look too strong in the midfield and their midfield has been difficult to score against conceding a league-low 65 points a game.
Dockers by 30 points.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Swallow, Dal Santo, Wells, Grima and Brown are big outs Tony...and they lost to a very very good side.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Another clinical performance by the undefeated Dockers. Got on top early with a five to one goal first quarter and never let up. North seemed to match them in the second quarter and got with 20 points late in the term. But they conceded two late goals before half time and that seemed to break their spirit. Dockers were totally dominant in the second half, kicking eight goals to one. Finished with 90 more disposals. Won the stoppages 31-15. Nat Fyfe best on ground in his 100th game. Finished with 37 possessions, 21 of them contested. 11 clearances, 8 of them from stoppages. The Dockers midfield totally dominant with Neale, Barlow, Mundy, Hill and the two Pearces all finishing with greater than 25 possessions. Dockers defence was as solid as ever, although with the dominant midfield, it made life easier for them. North's poor disposal didn't help either, with far too many turnovers from their defence and through the midfield. Dockers successfully clogged up the corridor and the Roos had no alternative answer. Cunnington tried hard all night and finished with 24 possessions, 18 contested. Jacobs also played well. But overall the Roos just couldn't cover the loss of Swallow, Dal Santo and Wells in the midfield and were in the end completely overwhelmed. Going to be very tough to stop this Dockers team. Thanks for joining us tonight and keep roaring!
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
FINAL SIREN and a huge 73 point win the Dockers! FRE 17 . 13 . 115 NM 5 . 12 . 42
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Taberner marks 15m out directly in front. Puts it through in possible the last kick of the match. FRE 17 . 13 . 115 NM 5 . 12 . 42 Q4 1m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Dockers have looked very polished, Roos look a little undermanned XI
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Into last 5 minutes, Dockers by 67 points
XI
Roar Guru
Geez, Dockers look a ways ahead right now. Or are the Kangaroos that far back?
Tony
Guest
Last year Norths made it to the prelim finals this year I think we will struggle to make the 8.Wake up Brayshaw I think it's time Brad Scott was moved on and may be Norths should think of getting a real coach Mick Malthouse will be available soon as Carlton are just as pathetic as Norths.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Mundy powers his way through the pack to kick another one for the Dockers.... FRE 16 . 12 . 108 NM 5 . 9 . 39 Q4 9m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Terrific individual effort by the sub Tommy Sheridan...running through the middle and teaming with Sutcliffe and Duffield...to kick a goal from 25m FRE 15 . 12 . 102 NM 5 . 9 . 39 Q4 10m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Couple of poor shots by the Roos, Ziebell's attempt virtually going sideways. FRE 14 . 12 . 96 NM 5 . 9 . 39 Q4 11m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Pearce runs through the middle...off to Mayne...who passes to Barlow. Kicks a goal from 40m out FRE 14 . 12 . 96 NM 5 . 8 . 38 Q4 15m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Sheridan subbed in for the Dockers. Pavlich being rested
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
A couple of misses early by both teams. FRE 13 . 12 . 90 NM 5 . 7 . 37 Q4 17m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Last qtr under way....North has to ensure they fight this out
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
THREE QUARTER TIME and the Dockers well in control, leading by 53 points. FRE 13 . 11 . 89 NM 5 . 6 . 36
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Pavlich long to half forward...off the pack it's picked up by Ballantyne ...long to Mundy who marks 30m out. Another goal to Dockers. Clinical. FRE 13 . 11 . 89 NM 5 . 6 . 36 Q3 2m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Totally dominating Dockers, very impressive
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Taberner free on the wing, finds Sutcliffe at half forward....runs on and passes to Mayne in the forward pocket. Makes no mistake for another docker goal. FRE 12 . 11 . 83 NM 5 . 6 . 36 Q3 4m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
McDonald subbed off for North, Dumont on