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.
Pasta Bob
Guest
Had high hopes for the Kangas, but looks like a repeat of the last five years.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
MATCH REVIEW Sydney Swans 14.7.91 Def North Melbourne Kangaroos 10.15.75 Major Goals. Swans Franklin 4, Goodes 3, Rohan 2, Tippett 2...NORTH Thomas 2 Higgins 2 Nahas2 Best SWANS Parker (BOG), Rampe, Franklin,Laidler. NORTH Goldstein, Harvey, Cunnington. The Swans came to Melbourne and proved too strong for North in a game that they took control of in the second quarter. Leading by 29 points at half time the Swans held off a more determined North after the break and it was "Buddy" who finally kicked his fourth and the sealer in the dying minutes. The game was marred by many confusing umpiring decisions particularly where the player was ducking to pick up the ball and tackled and penalised for holding it. There were many turnovers early until the Swans put a spare player behind the ball and took control of the play. North couldn't cope with this and continually kicked straight to this spare particularly in the second quarter. The Swans had nearly 20 more inside fifties in the second quarter. North came with more intensity in the second half to outscore the Swans but it wasn't enough to make up the first half deficit. Luke Parker was the best on ground racking up 33 disposals. Rampe and Laidler were good in the back half all night and started forward attacks constantly. Franklin was a key. Four goals against the niggling Thompson proved him to be the best forward on the night. For North Goldstein won the ruck easily. Boomer Harvey was instrumental in their comeback and Cunnington tried hard all night. The Swans now head to the break in second position and right in the premiership race. They will be looking to consolidate the double chance and together with Fremantle must be favoured for the flag. North have let themselves down again. They cannot seem to string wins together and it will remain a battle to even make the finals. They face GWS away next week. Overall a vital win for the Swans and one they will be happy with. North were disappointing and won't have many more chances to turn their season around.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Swans win by 16.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS Buddy!!!!!!! Swans will win. NORTH 10.15.75 SWANS 14.7.91 Q4 0.09'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Time in favour of the Swans. NORTH 10.14.74 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 1'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Swans by 11. Waite taken two big marks. Confusing ducking the head decisions. NORTH 10.14.74 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 4'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH The sub Dumont kicks a long goal. Game on! Great mark by Waite. NORTH 10.13.73 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 8'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH Sam Wright kicks a vital goal. There is just enough time. NORTH 9.12.66 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 9'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
I think time has run out. Swans too desparate to lose this one. NORTH 8.12.60 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 9'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
North need a score quickly!! NORTH 8.12.60 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 12'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Good thing he is big and ugly enough to handle it.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
SUB SWANS Robinson on Rohan off
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS Hanneberry snaps from nothing and thats an important goal. NORTH 8.12.60 SWANS 13.7.85 Q4 15'
Mick
Guest
right in the back of the head mind you
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
Firrito gives Buddy another ear massage. NORTH 8.12.60 SWANS 12.7.79 Q4 17'
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
3 QTR TIME Swans 12.7..79 lead North 8.11.59 Goals Franklin Goodes 3 Rohan Tippett 2..North Thomas Higgins Nahas 2 Luke Parker has 27 disposals and Todd Goldstein 32 hit outs. North came back that quarter but the Swans still maintain a lead by 20. At least we have something to watch with plenty of niggle especially with Buddy. Ziebell really collected Hanneberry that quarter with a knee in the back but he seems ok now.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
3 QTR TIME Swans by 20.
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
SUB NORTH McMahon off Dumont on
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL NORTH Harvey gets one back for North,,, Swans by 21. NORTH 8.9.57 SWANS 12.6.78 Q3 2′
Graham Smith
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS Goodes on the end of a chain again,his third. He gets away too easily. They have too many stars on their forward line and Goodes ends up with the fourth match up. NORTH 7.9.51 SWANS 12.6.78 Q3 2'