WHO: St Kilda v North Melbourne
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 8, 3:20pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE
R20, 2015, North Melbourne 18.12 (120) d St Kilda 11.17 (83) at Blundstone Arena
R17, 2014, North Melbourne 13.14 (92) d St Kilda 3.15 (33) at Blundstone Arena
R10, 2013, North Melbourne 19.19 (133) d St Kilda 10.5 (65) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2012, North Melbourne 21.10 (136) d St Kilda 15.13 (103) at Etihad Stadium
R23, 2011, St Kilda 19.21 (135) d North Melbourne 10.10 (70) at Etihad Stadium
SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU)
North Melbourne is undefeated through six rounds and is playing an exciting style of football. Even contributions from all over the field have lifted the Kangaroos to the top of the ladder but the forward line in particular is proving almost impossible to stop. Jarrad Waite is in the form of his life, while Drew Petrie and Ben Brown are stretching opposition defences. St Kilda enters the game with optimism though, after a 39-point victory against Melbourne last Saturday.
Skipper Nick Riewoldt is playing excellent footy and Tim Membrey popped up with five goals against the Demons in his first game for the year. Tom Hickey impressed with his ability to negate in-form Demon Max Gawn in the ruck and will be called upon again to curb Todd Goldstein's influence.
Todd Goldstein will have a tough battle with the Saints' Tom Hickey.
THE HEADLINES
Petrie: A timeline
As he prepares to play his 300th game, NMFC.com.au takes you through a career timeline.… MORE
Nahas steps up
Robin Nahas could line up against the Saints this weekend, with North promoting the small forward on to the senior list.… MORE
Opposing Threat: St Kilda
A St Kilda side with the capability to play seriously good football is North’s next opponent.… MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
B: Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Luke McDonald
HB: Sam Wright, Scott Thompson, Shaun Atley
C: Sam Gibson, Ben Cunnington, Nick Dal Santo
HF: Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite, Daniel Wells
F: Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Shaun Higgins
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int from: Ben Jacobs, Michael Firrito, Robbie Nahas, Mason Wood
Emerg: Brad McKenzie, Aaron Mullett, Majak Daw
In: Mason Wood, Robbie Nahas
Out: Lindsay Thomas (suspended), Kayne Turner (hamstring)
Milestone: Drew Petrie – 300 games
St Kilda
B: J Geary, S Dempster, J Webster
HB: S Savage, S Fisher, L Montagna
C: B Acres, D Armitage, J Newnes
HF: J Billings, N Riewoldt, D Minchington
F: J Sinclair, J Bruce, T Membrey
Fol: T Hicket, S Gilbert, J Steven
Int from: S Ross, L Dunstan, J Gresham, M Weller
Emerg: B Murdoch, H Goddard, J Lonie
Jack Lonie is one of three inclusions into the Saints' 25-man squad.
THE COACH SAID
THE SIX STATS (AFL.com.au)
1. When these teams last played, the Saints led at half-time by 20 points before the Kangaroos kicked nine goals in the third quarter. Drew Petrie booted four goals and Andrew Swallow had 25 disposals.
2. St Kilda has been one of the strongest centre clearance sides in 2016, ranked third. North Melbourne is only marginally behind in equal fourth place.
3. It will be the 154th time these clubs play. The Saints hold a very narrow advantage, winning 76 games to 75, with two draws.
4. The Kangaroos are ranked second for points per game, with 112. They have kicked at least 100 points in five of their six matches.
5. Another win and it will be the first time since 1979 the Kangaroos have won their first seven games of a season.
6. St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt struggled last time out against North Melbourne. He was the Saints' 18th-ranked player, with only 5.1 Schick AFL Player Rating points.
Drew Petrie kicked four goals the last time he faced the Saints.
THE BURNING QUESTIONS
Can the Roos do it for "3dp"?
North forward Drew Petrie will this week become just the fifth Roo to crack the magical 300-game barrier, joining fellow club greats Brent Harvey (415 games), Glenn Archer (311), Wayne Schimmelbusch and Adam Simpson (both 306) in the illustrious group. To mark the occasion, the North playing group will wear a special edition guernsey with "3dp" tagged on the front, just below the Mazda logo. Petrie has been a champion on the field over his 15-year AFL career as well as a champion off it, and the Roos will be determined to celebrate the milestone with a win over St Kilda.
Hickey or Goldy to win out?
Saints ruckman Tom Hickey drew high praise from coach Alan Richardson for his individual performance against in-form Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn in their 39-point win last Saturday. The 201cm Hickey halved the contest in the ruck, only just losing the hit-out count 38-36. All-Australian Goldstein, meanwhile, was kept relatively quiet in general play compared to his usual standards in the 16-point win over the Western Bulldogs, finishing with eight disposals, two marks and one tackle. The 27-year-old will be eager to bounce back this week by asserting his usual influence around the ground to complement his recent hit-out dominance.
Roo and co to continue fine form?
Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt put in a best-on-ground effort against the Demons, with his 24 disposals, 14 marks and three goals steering his side to victory. The 304-gamer will be aiming for a repeat performance against North, with fellow forwards Tim Membrey (five goals) – his first game for the Saints following a right shoulder reconstruction last season – and Josh Bruce (three goals) also demonstrating their goalkicking prowess versus the Dees. North's backmen are working in tandem, however, with Scott Thompson leading the way last week by restricting Bulldogs forward Jake Stringer to 0.2 and two marks, while accumulating 26 touches, nine marks and five rebound 50s of his own.
Robbie to the rescue?
After being elevated from the Roos' rookie list on Thursday, livewire Robbie Nahas has been named in the 25-man squad to face the Saints and fill the vacancy in attack. With Kayne Turner sidelined for four weeks with a hamstring injury suffered against the Bulldogs, and Lindsay Thomas handed a one-game ban for his high tackle on Lachie Hunter, coach Brad Scott could employ the services of Nahas to fill the sudden small forward deficiency. Nahas was upgraded to the senior list after fellow speedster Jed Anderson was moved on to the long-term injury list in late March to nurse the hamstring tear he sustained against Adelaide in round one.
Forward pressure still a key?
One of the keys to North's impressive start to the season has been the forward pressure acts inside 50. North is ranked among the best in the competition for defensive pressure applied inside its attacking 50 and this statistic will help decide the winner of Sunday's clash. The Roos' tall forwards have demonstrated their ability to apply enormous pressure on the opposition inside 50 and they've been well assisted by livewires Lindsay Thomas and Kayne Turner so far this year. But with the two small forwards absent this week, who will step up and chase and harass the opposition?
Ben Jacobs clears the middle in the teams' last meeting.
