Melbourne Demons vs North Melbourne Kangaroos: AFL live scores

The only reason they made finals in 2018 was due to playing the Suns, Saints, Bulldogs and Adelaide twice. All those sides mentioned were horrendous in 2018 and any team that got to play them twice would be guaranteed a finals spot. Such a fortutious draw won't be happening this year since every side plays each other so I think they are no chance of playing finals. On the flip side, they were shocking against the top 8 sides in 2018 and only beat 2 of them in the final 2 rounds when those sides were either severely depleted in personnel (WC, R22) or had nothing to play for in terms of ladder position (GWS, R23). WC belted them in the prelim because they were batting above their weight. Seems a repetition of 2018, except this time they won't play finals.

They’ve always been flat track bullies that punched above their weight.

Can't be sure about us. Can be sure about North: terrible. We certainly don't deserve to be considered anything better than middle of the road to this point, but our season form line isn't as bad as many think. Our losses are to five of the top six. That's OK, if we build from the platform we've created, starting with beating Collingwood and the Dogs. Collingwood made a GF in 2018 with just one home & away win against a top 8 side. We could well make finals, or we could drop some games to mid-table sides and fall back to 12th (or worse). I don't see North climbing out of the bottom 4, particularly with their fixture (still yet to play Port, Brisbane, West Coast and Collingwood).

As a Dees fan, we always give ourselves the opportunities in the forward line, but the connection between the mids and forwards plus our second rate skill level hold us back every time. Sadly, it's been this way a few years now. Until that improves, we're mid-table.

Both sides are not up to it. Dees have proven they are far from being a top 8 side with their losses to the best. Port smashed them 2 rounds ago and Richmond beat them comfortably. Nearly beat Brisbane and Geelong but close enough is not good enough still to be a contender. Might be a good chance against Collingwood next round but they seem middle of the road to me and have a long way to go. North are a bottom 4 side and they don't have enough decent depth to replace important players like Ziebell, Cunnington and Brown. They need to get some good young talent asap.

It's bloody strange, they where a destination in the old vfl in 70s and that awesome 90s side was smart recruitment and zone and the facilities are better now, hopefully Brady Rawlings weaves his magic

My side doesn't need him but I'd love to get Simpkin to wce, be perfect replacement for Shu we y when he retires

Been stuck on another thread but been watching. Seems the question is: are Melbourne that good or are North that bad? Sorry to both clubs but I am pretty sure Melbourne aren't that good (yet), great win but some truly awful defending by North

Money's not their problem - no-one wants to go there but I expect they will chase Josh Kelly again and miss out again.

They have improved from last year but are still an ordinary side imo. Not capable of playing finals yet after failing all the big tests against good sides so far. If they made the mistakes they did against a decent side tonight, the result would be very different. They seem like a flat track bully middle of the road side that has to refine some parts of their list to become a finals worthy side.

Another tough night for North but getting game time into the second tier playing group is Shaw’s main focus for the rest of the season.

The bounce is more exciting than this game!

I hope he isn't a sacrificial cheap coach cause he seems like a decent bloke

Yeah man I feel for Rhys. I know he could make a good coach but I just don’t think he can do it at north