Three spots may open up and kangaroos.com.au takes a look at the players in line to pull on the North Melbourne jumper.
Aaron Edwards
Edwards’ last outing for North Ballarat was a blinder which included 4 goals, 27 possessions and 15 marks. The medium sized forward could be looked upon to replace Lindsay Thomas but would need to bring the defensive side of his game to Etihad. He hasn’t played since Round 10 and kicked one goal against the Bulldogs in Round 7.
Cruize Garlett
It may be the week for Garlett. Lindsay Thomas’ two match ban may mean a position shuffle and Leigh Adams’ shoulder concern could leave a spot open and the midfielder could easily slide in to fill the void.
Ayden Kennedy
At the beginning of the year, no one would have imagined Kennedy filling a defensive role, but with his recent form for Werribee and concerns lingering over the fitness of Scott McMahon who was substituted out of the Melbourne game with a groin injury, the 20-year old might be the perfect replacement.
Aaron Mullett, Cam Richardson and Will Sierakowski
Emergencies last week and a bye in the VFL has Mullett and Richardson fresh, while Sierakowski may travel to Perth. If Adams is ruled out, the match committee may have to re-arrange the line-up which has worked so well for it over the past seven weeks and one of the three could come into consideration.
Cam and Luke Delaney
Depending on McMahon’s fitness, the Delaney’s could be used against the Dogs. Both played in the Round 7 fixture and may have a shot at redemption. The ability to push Scott Thompson onto a smaller forward means there’s plenty of flexibility for the Roos.
Cam Pedersen
Brad Scott has said on a number of occasions Pedersen ‘should be playing AFL footy’ but the likes of Drew Petrie, Robbie Tarrant and Lachlan Hansen are keeping him out. While Hansen had a quiet game against the Demons, Scott judges the key forwards as a unit not as individuals, so an 8 goal return (Petrie 4, Tarrant 4) may keep Pedersen in the VFL a little longer.
Levi Greenwood
A 29 possession game can’t be ignored and Greenwood returned to his best for the Tigers. The strong midfielder could be the right fit against the Western Bulldogs after his game was described as ‘bullocking’ by development coach John Lamont with 'a lot of quick kicks from stoppages'.
The Dogs are ranked 6th in the AFL for contested possessions and pride themselves on winning the ball at stoppages so Greenwood’s grunt would certainly be handy.
Aaron Black
If the Roos want to stretch the Dogs’ defence and go tall without Thomas, Black could be selected for his fifth AFL game. In his last match with North Ballarat, the athletic forward kicked 2 goals to go along with 14 touches and 5 marks.
Ben Warren and Ben McKinley
They’ve both been in fine form and would be eying Thomas’ vacated spot in the North forward line but could be hard pressed to convince Werribee not to book them on the flight to Perth with some serious prize money on the line in the Foxtel Cup final on Thursday night.
Hamish McIntosh
With just a single game played after coming back from a knee injury, the ruckman won’t be risked at AFL level this week and is likely to sit out to Foxtel Cup. Two games in just six days a big ask after weeks of rehabilitation.
Ben Speight, Majak Daw, Malcolm Lynch and Brad Mangan
Like the two Bens, all are likely to be headed west with Werribee for the Foxtel Cup.
Ben Mabon, Gavin Urquhart and Max Warren
All playing good footy, a promotion to the senior list for the latter two is unlikely at this stage.
