North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Friday, April 2 - 4.20pm AEDT
Marvel Stadium

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Good Friday football is back, and North Melbourne is once again taking on the Dogs in the marquee fixture of round three. 

North enters the game off the back of a disappointing loss against Gold Coast and will be looking to silence the doubters with a strong performance. 

The Bulldogs, on the other hand, are flying. Starting the season with two wins on the bounce, they charged home with a five-goal last quarter to overcome a strong West Coast side in round two. 

With Ben Cunnington back in the side, North fans have plenty of reason to smile. After missing most of 2020 with a back injury and struggling with concussion for much of the season so far, he will be a welcome addition to the engine room.

Last time we met

Round 5, 2020

It was also the last time  Cunnington donned the royal blue and white stripes.

After losing their first two games of the season, the Dogs came out with a point to prove and steamrolled their way to a 49-point win at Marvel Stadium.

Josh Walker was a monster in defence for North as he recorded 12 intercept possessions, while Todd Goldstein and Curtis Taylor both kicked 2 goals.

Josh Bruce shone for the Bulldogs with six goals, while Jack Macrae had 24 touches and 5 clearances from midfield. 

The matchup

Jed Anderson v Jack Macrae

Despite being named on the wing in the 2020 All-Australian side, make no doubt about it, Macrae is an elite inside ball-winner.

Macrae has collected a staggering 76 disposals across the first two games of the season, and his 9 clearances against the Eagles helped pull his side over the line.

Jed Anderson made a successful return from a calf injury last week and was North’s best, showing no signs of rust on his way to 27 disposals.

However, the real hallmark of Anderson’s game last week was his tackling, as he laid a career-high 14.

Anderson is known for the ability to win his own football, and with Macrae almost certain to see a lot of the ball during the game, it can be expected that these two inside bulls will be locking horns.

The key men

Todd Goldstein and Marcus Bontempelli 

One of the elite rucks in the competition, Todd Goldstein was immense last time North played the Dogs, winning 32 hit-outs and collecting 3 clearances.

With the Dogs utilising such high-class midfielders, Goldstein’s tap work will be imperative in allowing North first use to drive forward and hit the scoreboard.

One of those high-class Bulldogs' midfielders is captain, Marcus Bontempelli.

The Dogs’ skipper dragged his side over the finish-line last week with 30 disposals and 3 goals.

If North can find a way to quell the opposition's leader then it will go a long way towards an upset victory. 

The stat

North's up-and-comers

You only need to look at the inside 50 numbers to see the future of North on show.

Tarryn Thomas and Luke Davies-Uniacke have pumped the ball into the attacking arc on 11 occasions each in two rounds, leading the Roos' team, while Jy Simpkin (9) and Cam Zurhaar (6) are next in line.

With the likes of Thomas and Davies-Uniacke delivering to the forwards, the Roos will have plenty of opportunities to score going forward. 

North Melbourne has fallen to a 128-point loss against the Western Bulldogs.

The Roos started positively in the opening term, with plenty of vigour in the contest, but by the main break the Bulldogs were well on top.

Josh Bruce dominated in the absence of key defenders Robbie Tarrant and Aidan Corr, booting 10 goals.

North fielded a youthful side, with the likes of Will Phillips, Charlie Lazzaro, Tom Powell and Kyron Hayden among the 23. 

Lazzaro kicked a great goal during the final term, bursting out of the middle and booting the first of his career from 50 metres. 

Ben Cunnington made a positive return, with 22 disposals and 9 clearances, while the loss of Jared Polec (hamstring) and Jed Anderson (ankle) further hurt an already undermanned Roos' outfit. 

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 3.4 3.8 5.9 (39)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.2 9.6 15.10 25.17 (167)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Stephenson 2, Hall, Larkey, Lazzaro
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 10, Treloar 3, English 3, Naughton 2, Dale 2, Lipinski, McNeil, Dunkley, Bontempelli, Scott

BEST
North Melbourne: Ziebell, Simpkin, Stephenson, Hall
Western Bulldogs: Bruce, Treloar, Dunkley, Smith, English, Macrae, Daniel

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Polec (hamstring), Anderson (ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Gardner (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Hayden (replaced Polec)
Western Bulldogs: Lipinski (replaced Gardner)