An average of exactly 100-points per game dips to less than 93 when the two games against the expansion clubs are removed from the equation. That figure would send them into the bottom half of the AFL, a staggering statistic given the flexibility and quality at their disposal during games.
In the absence of Tyson Goldsack this week, the Pies will most likely enter Saturday with Travis Cloke, Chris Dawes and Chris Tarrant as their three talls once again. While Tarrant has had an injury-plagued 2012, he can kick goals and has had multiple games of five-plus to his name.
While Dawes has had a modest goal return this season with 14 in 18 games, he appears to be building solid form at the right time of the year with seven majors in the last five weeks. He also doubles as the back-up ruckman to Darren Jolly when Cameron Wood isn't in the side.
Cloke has made more headlines about his contract than his on-field exploits but has still managed to kick 45 goals from 19 games; 12 behind the leader of the Coleman medal Matthew Pavlich.
Between the three talls, there is constant rotation of their starting positions. At various points in the game there'll be a different key forward starting in the goalsquare, meaning each North Melbourne defender will find himself on the last line at some point.
However when it comes to crunch time, the forwards revert to their most comfortable spots. For Cloke, this means being the deepest of the trio. His brute strength makes him a handful, evidenced by his match winning goal against Sydney when he rag-dolled Heath Grundy out of the way.
Few defenders in the league have the strength of Cloke, yet in Luke Delaney, North has someone who can match it with the key forward. If he selected, Delaney is a more than capable opponent when Cloke resides close to goal.
Dawes plays the furthest up the ground and is still a threat for a big bag of marks taking eight per week over the last three matches. At 193cm, Scott Thompson has the height and mobility to stick with Dawes around the ground and also to run off and rebound.
Michael Firrito could also be an option to play on Dawes. If the match committee elects to go that way, it would mean Thompson would most likely play on Tarrant. Either option demonstrates flexibility amongst the key defenders, an attribute vital to the side and its ability to adapt.
Collingwood's medium and small forward setup is often unpredictable and it's there where it can catch opponents out. With such a deep midfield rotation, players such as Dayne Beams, Sharrod Wellingham and Steele Sidebottom can pop up in bursts.
It means North’s midfielders will have to be prepared to run both ways to minimise the damage. As an example, in the 117-point loss last season, Sidebottom, Dane Swan and Dale Thomas kicked nine goals between them.
There is also the inexperienced Magpies players to watch out for. Jamie Elliott already possesses some of the safest hands in the business amongst small forwards, while Ben Sinclair's attack on the ball is highly regarded. However, this is an area where North could possibly catch Collingwood out.
Because the likes of Elliott and Sinclair tend to spend most of their time forward, it means someone like Shaun Atley will be matched up against them. Rebounding at speed from defence occasionally catches Collingwood out as Hawthorn showed in its Round 17 victory.
Atley and Jamie Macmillan will have a big role to play in attempting to generate similar run. Along with Scott McMahon, the trio's foot skills will need to be on target.
