Melbourne v North Melbourne
Sunday, August 9 - 6.10pm AEST
Adelaide Oval 

It’s 15^th versus 12^th as North Melbourne takes on Melbourne in neutral territory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday evening.

Both teams have enjoyed mixed fortunes in 2020, with the Demons boasting the edge in form, having won three of their last five.

North has lost seven of its last eight games, but has shown some encouraging signs in recent weeks.

The Roos have lost just one game against Melbourne since 2007, but split the ledger in 2019, falling short at the MCG, before a win at Blundstone Arena in the final round.

Last time we met

Round 23, 2019

Both teams were out of finals contention as Scott Thompson and Jordan Lewis played their farewell games.

With pride on the line, it was a close-fought battle at Blundstone Arena, the Roos’ home away from home.

While the lead see-sawed for much of the day, it was a late Shaun Higgins goal that won the game for North in the 28^th minute of the final term.

Higgins racked up 34 disposals and kicked two goals, while Jared Polec starred with 29 touches.

Max Gawn grabbed the top Brownlow votes, but will be sidelined for Sunday’s clash through injury.

The matchup

Clayton Oliver v Luke McDonald?

While McDonald has been in stellar form in the defensive half, could a return to a tagging role he was so successful in earlier in the year be on the cards?

McDonald shut down Dustin Martin and Marcus Bontempelli among several big-bodied midfielders, so Oliver could be the perfect matchup.

Oliver was brilliant in the Demons’ win over Adelaide, racking up 34 disposals, 11 clearances and six tackles, so North will no doubt be looking to quell his impact.

Jack Viney’s absence with concussion is a big blow for Melbourne.

The key men

Christian Petracca and Jy Simpkin

While Petracca has a couple of years on Simpkin, the pair are very much the future of their clubs.

Tough, skilled and with plenty of tricks in the bag, these two will keep fans excited for years to come.

Both players are having career-best years, averaging 22 and 21 disposals a game respectively and will be vital to their teams’ chances.

The stat

Todd Goldstein has racked up 108 contested possessions in 2020, ranking him seventh in the competition for the statistic alongside some elite midfielders.

We’ve highlighted his clearance dominance in recent weeks, sitting top of the league for the stat, but with the second-ranked player, Clayton Oliver on the opposing side, the midfield battle is going to be intriguing.

The teams

North Melbourne has fallen to a 57-point loss at the hands of Melbourne on Sunday night.

The Roos showed encouraging signs in the opening term at Adelaide Oval, dominating possession and taking a ten-point lead into the first break.

But it was all Demons from then on; North booted just two goals in the final three quarters, while its opponent booted 12. 

Despite a disappointing loss there were some encouraging individual performances, with Luke Davies-Uniacke particularly impressive in the first half and finishing with 24 disposals, and Nick Larkey booting 4 goals.

Luke McDonald continued his strong recent form with 33 touches and 9 marks.

There were periods late in the game when North had just one player on the bench, with Aiden Bonar (shoulder), Jed Anderson (eye) and Josh Walker (leg) all injured.

Goldy gets a breather
Star Demon Max Gawn (shoulder) not playing meant there wasn't going to be another chapter of his captivating ruck rivalry with Todd Goldstein. North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw said on game eve Gawn's absence wouldn't impact on his club's plans, but things certainly looked different. Majak Daw, rather than Goldstein, started in the ruck – although Goldy was in there by the second centre bounce – and the 2015 Virgin Australia AFL All-Australian played far less game time than usual. Goldstein is one of the AFL's great workhorses, but he played only 87 per cent of Sunday's game. The Kangaroos still dominated the hitout count, but only split the clearances. They were playing for the third time in nine days, so the 32-year-old was deserving of lighter duties in what's been a mighty individual campaign. 

NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 4.2 5.4 5.5 (35)
MELBOURNE 1.4 4.7 7.8 13.14 (92) 

GOALS
North Melbourne: Larkey 4, Daw
Melbourne: Weideman 2, Fritsch 2, Pickett, Brayshaw, Melksham, Petracca, Spargo, T.McDonald, Hannan, Sparrow, Oliver 

BEST
North Melbourne: McDonald, Larkey, Dumont, Davies-Uniacke
Melbourne: Petracca, Brayshaw, Oliver, Langdon, Pickett, Lever, Weideman 

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Bonar (left shoulder), Anderson (eye), Walker (head knock/leg)
Melbourne: Nil