History tells another disappointing tale. From 152 matches, North has won just 48 times with 2 drawn games.
One thing in the Roos’ favour is their current form and winning eight out of nine matches will give this group of players confidence they’ve never had before going into a match against the Pies.
Who’s hot?
Dayne Beams
Enjoying a break-out year, Beams’ production has him in All-Australian discussions and the 22-year old is averaging 8 disposals more than last year with 30.8 (4th in the AFL). He’s also top of the AFL table for most effective disposals and 3rd in total uncontested possessions.
Sam Wright
He posted the same numbers as Brownlow Medal favourite Jobe Watson last week and continues to fly under the radar. Playing predominantly off half-back, the 22-year old was taken two picks before Beams in the 2008 Draft and collected 31 disposals and a goal against the Bombers.
In the middle
The midfield battle will be a tough one to win for North without Daniel Wells and Leigh Adams. However the addition of Cruize Garlett, who had 21 disposals and 2 goals last week, has been a massive boost.
Captain Andrew Swallow continues to churn out big numbers and is 5th in overall clearances in the AFL while Dane Swan is Collinwood’s best clearance player ranked 13th, but will be missing due to suspension.
Looking at the clubs overall, the contest is even with North and Collingwood tied for 4th in the league, each with a total of 746 clearances at an average of 39 per game.
Todd Goldstein was one of the only players that could hold his head up high against the Pies last time the teams met in Round 16, 2011. He beat Darren Jolly convincingly, collecting 38 hit-outs to 24. Jolly though was only playing his second game back, after being out since Round 5.
As far as hit-outs go this year, Jolly is having a career-best season averaging 32 a game, while Goldstein is 2nd in the league averaging 33.
One to watch
North - Drew Petrie
After a goal-less match against Essendon, Petrie might just return with a bang. The vice-captain is currently 3rd in the race for the Coleman Medal and will be the main focus for the Pies’ defenders. Last time the teams faced off, Petrie was the main danger in front of goals but he now has Lachlan Hansen and Robbie Tarrant to help shoulder the load.
Collingwood - Steele Sidebottom
Another young Pie who has taken his game to a new level, Sidebottom now averages more than 27.4 disposals a game, up from 19.6 last year. Of concern for North is his love of playing against the club. In the last three matches against the Kangaroos Sidebottom has kicked a total of 11 goals and collected 64 possessions.
Where it could be won
Man up
If North Melbourne is going to beat the Pies, Brad Scott will need to make the opposition defenders accountable and do his best to prevent them from having a spare player back. One-on-one football could be the key with Petrie, Tarrant and Hansen up against the likes of Ben Reid, Nick Maxwell and Nathan Brown.
Over-use
North has been accused of over-possessing the football at times and with the Magpies’ ability to relentlessly pressure their opposition all over the ground, efficiency by hand and foot along with good decision making could be crucial. If the Roos muck around with the footy, Collingwood will be aiming to create a high amount of turnovers.
Missing in action
North
Daniel Wells - Calf, 1 week
Nathan Grima - Hamstring Tendonitis, 2 weeks
Hamish McIntosh - Knee, Season
Leigh Adams - Shoulder, Season
Tom Curran - Foot, Season
Collingwood
Dane Swan - Suspension, 1 week
Simon Buckley - Hamstring, Test
Caolan Mooney - Hamstring, Test
Jackson Paine - Soreness, Test
Trent Stubbs - Shoulder, Test
Dale Thomas - Corked thigh, Test
Cameron Wood - Soreness, Test
Tyson Goldsack - Ankle, 1 week
Luke Ball - Knee, Season
Michael Hartley - Shoulder, Season
Lachlan Keeffe - Knee, Season
Marley Williams - Shoulder, Season
