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The North Melbourne Kangaroos face a season-defining game when they play the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:20pm (AEST).
The Swans are second on the ladder and look to be a genuine premiership contender. On the other hand North have disappointed, failing to live up to pre-season predictions.
However North were terrific last week. With Darren Crocker as interim coach while Brad Scott has back surgery, and kicking into a howling gale at Bellerive, they outscored the West Coast Eagles in the last quarter to record a courageous win.
The two sides haven’t played each other at Etihad since 2011, in a game the Swans won by a point.
More importantly, the Swans handed North a thrashing in last year’s preliminary final and North will be hellbent on turning that result around.
The Swans have won eight of the last 10 games against North, and that includes a draw.
There are key match-ups all over the ground. The Swans midfield of Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy will be matched by North’s Jack Ziebell and Andrew Swallow. In the ruck Mike Pyke and Todd Goldstein lock horns, and both sides have vital key forwards in Buddy Franklin and Drew Petrie.
A side issue to the game is the constant booing of Swans star Adam Goodes by opposition fans. Interestingly North have came out this week and asked their supporters to show some class and refrain from such behaviour. We will watch this with interest.
Both teams go in unchanged from last week.
Prediction
It will be close all night – expect the lead to change often.
The Swans by a point.
Will the Swans continue their chase of Fremantle and cement a double-chance position on the ladder, or will North find that old ‘shinboner’ spirit and continue to get their season back on track?
Join The Roar from 7:20pm (AEST) for score updates and debate in our live blog.
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