In the top-of-the-table clash, the North Melbourne Kangaroos take on the Western Bulldogs at Ethiad Stadium. Join The Roar for all the Friday night football action from 7:50pm (AEST).
North Melbourne enter Round 6 as the only unbeaten side. However, apart from the Gold Coast, there are no other teams they have beaten this year that are currently in the top eight.
The Western Bulldogs are second on the ladder, with their only loss being to Hawthorn by under a goal.
Similar to North Melbourne, the Dogs’ draw for the start to the season has been kind, with none of the sides they have faced currently in the eight.
The Roos come into the game with an unchanged line up, Mason Wood and Lachie Hanson unable to force their way into the side. Wood could consider himself unlikely after being a late exclusion due to the conditions in the Gold Coast last week.
The Bulldogs’ injuries to defenders continue, with new recruit Matthew Suckling out with an ankle injury. He joins Rob Murphy and Jason Johannisen on the injured list. First-round draft pick from 2011 Fletcher Roberts has been recalled to replace Suckling.
The Bulldogs are ranked first in both the contested and uncontested possession differentials in the league, and against the Lions Koby Stevens, Matthew Boyd, Lachie Hunter and Mitch Wallis all had more than 30 possessions.
North rank second in the contested and uncontested possession differential, with Nick Dal Santo best afield last week against the Gold Coast, with 28 possessions.
North’s three tall forwards – Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown – are working well, with 37 goals between them already this season.
It is a mouth-watering clash that promises to rival last week’s Friday night clash between Hawthorn and Adelaide.
Prediction
The bookmakers have North Melbourne as slight favourites, and with Todd Goldstein and their three key forwards firing, they’ll be too good for the Bulldogs.
North Melbourne by 12 points.
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TomC
Roar Guru
Good votes, Matt.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Well spotted, this was definitely not a high quality game.
Macca
Guest
Stephen - both games were tight and hard fought and riddled with errors and missed opportunities - the ladderpsoirons just changes people's perception.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Someone call Australia Port the package seems to have been misdelivered.
EddyJ
Guest
It could be argued that the pressure from both sides reduced the spectacle of the game, but good sides should be able to absorb the pressure, and produce a good level of skills. Sure, the pressure was great, but there were so many dropped marks, imprecision, and woeful kicking. Roughead missed a set shot from 5 metres out in the last quarter! Stringer, nowhere to be seen. What about the shot by Petrie from 20 metres directly in front – out on the full! Firritto has an awful kick a few minutes later that come off the side of the boot. I thought that maybe it's the dew, but then remembered the roof was closed. Wasn't a terrible game – high pressure and close scores kept it interesting, but a scoreline line 9.7 vs. 6.9 isn't really set the world on fire. At the moment, I wouldn't be too concerned about either North or the Bulldogs. They'll have to lift their game substantially to be serious challengers. Bulldogs are on the verge of being found out strategically, and North have the flavour of Fremantle 2015 about them (i.e. front runners early in the season, found wanting later on).
anon
Guest
I put money on North considering the Bulldogs have so many injuries. I think the Bulldogs are fundamentally a better team and North are pretenders. But the skill errors were inexplicable. Are the Bulldogs becoming fatigued?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Wrighty has excellent judgement. Top fighting effort all 'round too.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
People are right to criticise the quality of the game, dogs' much vaunted crisp ball handling was nowhere to be seen, sure, we must give credit to North's pressure, but I don't think that explains it completely, time after time, dogs weren't able to handle the footy first time like they have done first five rounds. In the end, North had three talls in forward 50 and that was the end of the game.
Perry Bridge
Guest
What the game was was a fierce contest - such that players felt under pressure even when they were clear. What is evident too is that with the interchange cap there was more fatigue and associated 'sloppiness' that is more what we expect of real footy - not guys running to the bench every 6.5 minutes. The Roos certainly butchered it at times and so too the Doggies. The umps butchered it a bit too - there were 2 awful deliberate outs paid against North along with a clean mark to the tallest guy out there (Goldstein) not paid which leaves one wondering just what the umpire was possibly thinking to justify that decision. Very important result for North. Showed how resilient our defence is becoming and so much of that has been built around the growth of Robbie Tarrant as the #1 key back which has allowed Spud and Thompson to take much more appropriate roles. Atley, Wright and McDonald have also found their feet. The side is building nicely - confidence and self belief based on results mean so much more than just about anything else.
Stephen
Guest
Beat Adelaide and beat Brisbane and Gold Coast up North in hot conditions. I don't think that is easy. Be nice to play Carlton, Essendon, Port Adelaide, Richmond. Really not too many tests to come, really , is there?
Stephen
Guest
Dud team vs dud team. Top team vs top team. This game was tight and hard fought.
Matthew Walsh
Roar Guru
Match Report North Melbourne are now 6-0 winning a low scoring game by 16 points. The Kangaroos led at every change but were never greater than 20 points ahead all night. The Bulldogs won the possession count but just turned over the ball and will take plenty out of the experience. There is plenty to like about their young players. Some of their bigger names, Bontempelli and Stringer, had nights they would rather forget. Jarrad Waite's impact, particularly after half time was evident. He was the only multiple goal scorer. ROAR MVP Votes 3 Votes - Jarrad Waite (NM) In a low scoring game, he was the only multiple goal scorer with 4 goals to go with 7 marks 2 Votes - Lachie Hunter (WB) - 44 possessions. Was everywhere particularly in the 2nd quarter. 1 Vote - Scott Thompson (NM) - 26 possessions, 9 marks and kept Jake Stringer very quiet. Honourable mentions to D Wells (great first term), J Macrae and M Boyd.
TomC
Roar Guru
The footy media is bad at calling a spade a spade. This is something of a test for them.
justinr
Guest
The least impressive 1 vs. 2 match I've seen in a while.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Was looking forward to this but what a dud game. The least inefficient team won.
Matthew Walsh
Roar Guru
Was different compared to the season so far. First time North had scored below 100pts this season.
Yah suspect! Yeah you....
Guest
Jake Stringer starting to believe his own hype? Been shut out badly by Thompson and Stratton - I'd question his legitimacy as focal point toward. Needs to play 3rd banana to two genuine talls.
Matthew Walsh
Roar Guru
North Melbourne in front from pretty much all the way tonight. Game full of turnovers and poor efficiency. Bulldogs couldn't get a winner up forward. Roar MVP votes to follow. North Melbourne D Wells - 27 Possessions S Thompson - 26 Possessions J Waite - 4.1 Western Bulldogs L Hunter - 44 Possessions M Boyd and J Macrae - 33 Possessions L Jong - 1.1
TomC
Roar Guru
Yeah, didn't really look like first v second.
Matthew Walsh
Roar Guru
GAME OVER NORTH MELBOURNE WIN Margin 16 pts. NORTH MELBOURNE 9.7.61 WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.9.45