Geelong v North Melbourne
Sunday, April 18 – 4.40pm AEST
GMHBA Stadium
After a much-improved performance against Adelaide last week, North Melbourne travels to Geelong as it still searches for its first win of the 2021 season.
With North leading at three quarter time, the Crows kicked eight goals in the final quarter to storm home to victory. David Noble will be hoping for a four-quarter performance from his young side this week.
Sitting at 2-2, pre-season expectations were high for Geelong after the acquisitions of Isaac Smith, Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Higgins.
However, the Cats sit outside the top eight following last week’s 25-point loss to a high-flying Melbourne side, and will be looking to remind everyone of their finals ambitions this weekend.
Last time we met: Round 10, 2020
Geelong’s early premiership aspirations were on full show as it defeated North by 33 points at the Gabba.
Trent Dumont brought the pressure in midfield as he laid a game-high 9 tackles, while Jy Simpkin continued to grow into his on-field leadership role, picking up 25 disposals, a goal and a game-high 8 clearances.
Gryan Miers slotted a career-best 4 goals for the Cats in the victory, and All-Australian midfielder Cam Guthrie racked up 29 touches.
The matchup: Nick Larkey v Mark Blicavs
With 3 goals and 6 tackles in the loss against Adelaide, Nick Larkey looks to have played himself back into form.
The Crows’ defence often struggled to deal with the pure power of North’s number 20 as he won 4 free kicks for the day, often just proving too strong for his opposite number.
Mark Blicavs, however, presents a totally new challenge.
Once again nominated in the initial 40-man All-Australian squad last season, his background as a steeplechaser has lead him to become one of the most athletic tall defenders in the AFL.
With two-time All-Australian Tom Stewart and veteran Lachie Henderson assisting Blicavs, Larkey will be hoping for a repeat of last week’s performance against a superb defensive unit this weekend.
The key men: Jy Simpkin and Joel Selwood
Stepping up to the role of co-vice-captain this season, Jy Simpkin has impressed with his ability to lead from the front, while continuing to provide top class performances.
He ran the show against the Crows with 29 disposals and a team high six clearances. Currently sitting 13th in the competition for total centre clearances, Simpkin can and will win his own football.
Coming up against a Geelong midfield full of veterans, Simpkin will be looking to provide his usual agility and x-factor to help lift his young teammates to a win in the middle of the park.
One such Geelong veteran is skipper Joel Selwood, and supporters and fans alike will be looking for some inspired leadership from the three-time Premiership player.
With 30 disposals and 8 tackles in the loss against Melbourne, Selwood worked to set the tone for his team, but they couldn’t follow his lead as they fell to a 25-point loss.
Patrick Dangerfield will return to Geelong’s midfield for the clash, but Selwood will still be required to bring the grit and toughness he is renowned for if Geelong want to defeat this exuberant and youthful North side.
The stat
After losing Luke McDonald to an early pec injury against the Crows, Aaron Hall was removed from his traditional midfield/forward role and stepped into the backline for much of the contest.
Hall thrived in the new position as he collected a game high 33 disposals, with 25 of those being kicks, at 76 per cent efficiency.
However, the key hallmark of his game was the aggressive style in which he took the game on. Often attempting to open up the midfield with inch perfect kicks into the corridor, Hall finished the game with a massive 835 metres gained.
With his classy performance, he lead the competition for metres gained the last round, with the stat also becoming North’s new benchmark for the season, surpassing Jack Ziebell’s 611-metre effort from round one.
