The last ticket to September is up for grabs as the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Port Adelaide Power clash in a late-season belter. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).
As impressive as North Melbourne’s 9-0 run to start the season was, the harsh reality is they’ve failed to pass the test in every one of their recent clashes with the top sides.
Injuries have played a part, but with five losses in the last six games, the minor premiership is now well out of the Roos’ reach, and a finals berth, while likely, is now no longer a guarantee.
North were wasteful in an otherwise gallant loss to Hawthorn, but were uncompetitive against Sydney, Geelong, Adelaide and West Coast.
They need a convincing win this week to get things back on track.
But where the Roos have proved their naysayers right, Port Adelaide have proved their admirers wrong.
With a return to the top four talked of, but at least a return to the top eight expected, the Power find themselves three games outside the eight with seven matches to play.
Port have not defeated a top eight side all year, and after losing three of their first five, have alternated between two-game winning and losing streaks.
Their scintillating 2014 campaign looks, now more than ever, like a flash in the pan.
Port Adelaide enjoy a narrow lifetime winning percentage in the AFL, although their overall record against North Melbourne is appalling. The Kangaroos have won a whopping 21 of 30 clashes between these sides, including six of eight at Etihad Stadium.
Prediction
As much as North Melbourne have struggled in recent weeks, Port Adelaide have not demonstrated any consistency for almost two full seasons.
Neither side deserves favouritism, but at the comfort of home, the Kangas should be able to get the job done.
Kangaroos by 14 points
Swannies
Guest
PB...North have probably extracted all they can from Waite and I can't see him replicating the same form he showed at the start of the year consistently. Petrie is becoming a liability for North now. Cunnington has gone missing in action since the Geelong match, Dal Santo's form is spasmodic and Goldstein looks 80% fit. Why not give Daw a go...he couldn't do any worse. I suspect Scott is hoping to get Jacobs and Higgins back but it might be too late...
Perry Bridge
Guest
In fairness - Wood was out, Black unavailable and Daw had a rolled ankle last week. Waite was rusty first week back - judge him more on next weeks outing. Petrie still tends to get the #1 defender so the key to the fwd line functioning is the ability for Brown/Waite to get off the leash. Just need them to get better separation. Petrie perhaps needs to push down back a bit more - become more of a utility/pinch hitter. For North - the unfortunate run of injuries this year has tended more on the young guys - in Rnd 1 we had Garner (who had become a lock late last year/finals) and Anderson and only Anderson has now returned. At the start of the year the 22nd player spot was hotly contested - but even after Garner got hurt then Turner got injured, Wood got injured. Wood is a gun. Garner was showing very good signs. And then then the mid tier of players we've had Higgins, Jacobs and Wright out long term as well as losing McDonald. At one point I was optimistic about the next generation forcing a couple of old guys out via natural evolution but alas things went pear shaped. As it is though - Ryan Clarke impressed me in pre-season and I'm very glad to see him getting games - I'd expected him ahead of Corey Wagner but at least we've got 2 debutants in there - they just need to taste a win!! Just sad that Wood went down in Perth - he is such a clean skilled footballer.
Swannies
Guest
Scott's misguided persistence with Petrie and gamble with Waite has back-fired big-time for North. In a way, finishing out of the eight might finally be a wake-up call for North that they need to revamp their ageing list. Just trying to be constructive as much as I loathe North.
Stirling Coates
Editor
NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Travis Boak (PA) - The skipper stood up for the Power. 32 disposals at 84%, seven tackles, five inside 50s and an important goal in the third quarter. 2 VOTES - Justin Westhoff (PA) - Immense for Port Adelaide at both ends of the ground. 20 disposals at 85%, three goals up forward and a number of important plays down back too. 1 VOTE - Robbie Gray (PA) - Got better as the game wore on, collecting 35 touches, five inside 50s and two goals.
Stirling Coates
Editor
NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE FULL TIME REPORT North Melbourne - 10.17 (77) Port Adelaide - 16.9 (105) GOAL KICKERS Kangaroos: Brown 3, Thomas 3, Harvey 2, Anderson, Macmillan Power: Schulz 3, Westhoff 3, Wingard 2, R. Gray 2, Young 2, Neade, S. Gray, Boak, Ah Chee DISPOSAL LEADERS Kangaroos: Harvey 29, Dal Santo 28, Swallow 24 Power: R. Gray 35, Boak 32, Wines 23 TEAM STATS Disposals: Kangaroos 374, Power 368 Contested Possessions: Kangaroos 148, Power 133 Tackles: Power 66, Kangaroos 50 Inside 50s: Kangaroos 48, Power 45 Clearances: Power 38, Kangaroos 28
justinr
Guest
will probably scrape into 8th though
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds on a breathtaking performance from the Port Adelaide Football Club. They blew their fancied opponents off the park in the first half, and while they were lucky North Melbourne couldn't hit the side of a barn in the third quarter, in the end they ran out well-deserved 28-point victors. The 2016 finals race may have just opened up again! NM - 10.17 (77) PA - 16.9 (105) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
Percentage likely to be a huge factor as we reach the end of the season. Port Adelaide probably think they deserve a lead greater than 28 points, should kick one more to finish off the evening. NM - 10.17 (77) PA - 16.9 (105) Q4: 2'
Swannies
Guest
This has officially ended North's finals hopes in 2016. Pretty dismal effort for a team that was sitting on top after 9 rounds...but we now know why. Looking forward to seeing Scott's post-match. Will trot out the standard..."our best is yet to come".
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL KANGAROOS Jamie Macmillan with a superb gut run to cut off a Port Adelaide kick forward, and just keeps on running. Stays involved in the handball chain as it progresses up the ground, and in the end receives the handball once more inside 50 before dobbing a running goal from 30 out. A nice goal to finish. NM - 10.17 (77) PA - 16.9 (105) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL KANGAROOS Strong kick to Lindsay Thomas in the pocket. He's been presenting all evening, and this kick from 25 out on an angle is a good one. NM - 9.17 (71) PA - 16.9 (105) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
The question has to be asked as to where North Melbourne go from here. A premiership contender a few weeks ago, the Kangaroos are now entrenched at the bottom of the top eight and might not even feature in September at all. They've been poor against the top sides as we all know, but with a capitulation at home to a non-top-eight opponent you'd have to be very concerned. NM - 8.17 (65) PA - 16.9 (105) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND POWER Justin Westhoff with a pirouetting kick off one step from 45 out, but it misses to the far side. NM - 8.17 (65) PA - 16.9 (105) Q4: 7'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Charlie Dixon has removed the footy boots and is now icing the ankle. Let's all hope its nothing seriousness. NM - 8.17 (65) PA - 16.8 (104) Q4: 8'
Swannies
Guest
Come on Port...finish them off!
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Jarman Impey's dash through the corridor sets up Aaron Young, and while his running shot is sprayed widely, it's called back as Jamie Macmillan shoved him in the back as he kicked. Kicking from 35 out on a moderate angle, he flirts with the far post, but manages to sneak it back inside. Port Adelaide with all the answers. NM - 8.17 (65) PA - 16.8 (104) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL KANGAROOS Lindsay Thomas is caught very high by Hamish Hartlett inside 50, earning the free kick. He's returned to the field following his concussion test, and after taking his time with the kick, slots it. NM - 8.17 (65) PA - 15.8 (98) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND POWER Robbie Gray with a quick snap from the pocket but it misses to the near side. NM - 7.17 (59) PA - 15.8 (98) Q4: 11'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL POWER Again North Melbourne muck it up from the kick-in. Brandon Ah Chee eventually wins the impromptu game of piggy in the middle, and his running kick is straight over the goal umpire's hat. You'd have to say it's goodnight North Melbourne. NM - 7.17 (59) PA - 15.7 (97) Q4: 12'
XI
Roar Guru
There are going to be some real stimulating phone calls to talkback radio tomorrow...