Footscray v North Melbourne
Saturday, June 23
Etihad Stadium Stadium
3.20pm (AEST)
Storyline
North Melbourne will take part in a curtain-raiser for the fourth and final time this season, facing the ninth-placed Footscray at Etihad Stadium.
Having scored consecutive wins against Coburg and Essendon on either side of its bye, Footscray will enter the high-stakes game full of confidence, despite being somewhat depleted due to injuries.
North will be looking to close distance on the top four after the bye and enter the winners circle again.
Ruck tag team
The ruck duel should provide an interesting narrative.
North's Braydon Preuss and Tristan Xerri will alternate at the stoppages and are likely to line-up against Jordan Roughead and Tom Campbell who worked in tandem to collect 62 hit-outs last weekend.
Footscray and North are statistically unrivalled for hit-outs per game, listed first and second respectively.
In clearances, the Bulldogs outdo the Roos by almost eight per game, so North will need to dig deep to win at the coalface.
Closing strong
A strong final quarter will be vital, with both teams showing an ability to come home with wet sails.
Although North were comprehensively outscored by Geelong in its last showing at GMHBA Stadium, a determined display after three-quarter-time highlighted North’s ability to push through to the very end.
On the back of a good month against quality opposition, a continuation of earlier form on the road will hold North in good stead.
Footscray has shown resolve in defence, proving its worth against a fast finish from Essendon and a much-improved Coburg.
The Dogs kicked three goals against the run of play to derail the efforts of the Bombers a fortnight ago, while booting four majors against a hard-working Coburg outfit which came close to breaking its winless streak last weekend.
Battle for contested footy
All eyes will be on the midfield, where contested ball will be at a premium.
Boosted by the return of gritty midfielder Nash Holmes, who has been welcomed back after successfully rehabbing an adductor injury, North's pursuit of the footy in the middle of the ground will be a key to victory.
Alongside ball magnet and co-captain Chris Jansen, Holmes will slot back into his roving duties, where he was amongst North’s most influential for the best part of a month before his three-week stint on the sidelines.
Holmes’ return will allow Nick Rippon to return to his slightly deeper role in defence, where he has thrived.
The Bulldogs will look to AFL-listed duo Josh Dunkley and Lin Jong, who ran riot against Coburg accumulating 21 and 20 possessions respectively.
Dunkley was assisted by inside ball winner Max Hayes, who laid six tackles alongside Dunkley’s nine to assert their authority in and around the stoppages.
Footscray team
B: Biggs, Collins, Young
HB: Dalgleish, Prudden, Lynch
C: Greenwood, Tashevski-Beckwith, Porter
HF: Greene, Mullenger-Mchugh, Hayes
F: Monfries, Nash, Roberts
R: Roughead, Campbell, Jong
Int: Henness, Ryan, Smith, Sullivan, Symeopoulos, Wales, Wallis, William
23P: Shea
Burning questions
Who will close in on the top eight?
The value of a victory on Saturday afternoon cannot be understated, with only a win and percentage separating North and Footscray from fourth-placed Essendon.
Although there is still plenty of footy to be played in the run home, a gap is beginning to form between the competition leading Richmond and the pack.
Will North secure its first win on the big stage?
North has been unable to secure premiership points in two previous curtain-raisers against Richmond and Geelong this season.
Having had a week to refresh, the Roos will look to hit the ground running and enter the second half of the season on the back of a positive result.
Can Nick Larkey make a case for senior selection?
The absence of veteran forward Jarrad Waite at senior level has boosted the chances for Larkey at AFL level.
With no confirmed timeframe on Waite’s return, another bag of goals could see Brad Scott grant the 20-year-old another opportunity in North’s forward line.
The second-year forward has booted 25 majors in nine games and is listed equal second on the VFL's goal-kicking table this year.
Fans are invited to attend Saturday’s VFL match against Footscray at Etihad Stadium, with the first bounce at 3.20pm.
