North Melbourne will be out to produce a full four-quarter performance this weekend when it faces the seventh-placed Western Bulldogs for the second time this season.

While the Dogs remain in the finals mix, the Kangas will be hoping to claim a major scalp as they begin to close out their 2024 campaign.

Round 23: Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne
Where: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
When: Sunday, August 18 at 1.10pm AEST
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

Despite having 16 more forward 50 entries than the Crows last Sunday, the Dogs struggled to convert, booting 9.18 as they fell to Adelaide by 39 points.

Midfielder Adam Treloar continued to add to his impressive individual campaign, racking up 28 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, while Marcus Bontempelli slotted two majors from his 26 touches.

On the injury front, the Dogs will be without versatile ruckman Tim English, who has been ruled out due to an ankle complaint.

What the coaches have said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson, post-game v West Coast: "Sometimes you need to go through these harsh lessons as a side. West Coast got too many goals when we had opportunities to kill the ball, spoil it through (for a behind), or get it across the boundary or do whatever we needed to do. We just allowed the ball to stay alive in their front end too much ... we kept them to 42 inside-50 entries, which is a really good effort, but for them to score 15 goals from those is a concern for us."

Western Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge, post-game v Adelaide: "We've got to expect that North Melbourne will come with an intent and they just may come with the capability and capacity this week to play their best football. We've got to be ready for it and we weren't ready for Adelaide's best football - which is a blight on us.

Milestone watch

Unsung Roo Bailey Scott will hit triple figures for AFL appearances on Sunday, when he runs out for the 100th time.

Despite two consecutive Syd Barker Medal podium finishes, the hard-running No.8 remains an underrated piece of the North Melbourne line-up.

The father-son recruit has been a dependable contributor over the years, and has plenty of good footy left in front of him at 24 years of age.

Last time we met

The Kangas weren't far off the pace when these clubs last met, but the Bulldogs were able to control the contest for most of the day, resulting in a 17-point victory for Luke Beveridge's side back in Round 16.

Down by 31 points at three-quarter time, the Roos kicked 3.3 in the final term but couldn't overrun a strong Bulldogs line-up.

Bontempelli was a key difference-maker, tallying 35 disposals and 11 clearances, while Tristan Xerri (34 hitouts, 20 disposals), Harry Sheezel (27 disposals, one goal) and Darcy Tucker (30 disposals, seven marks) shone for the Kangas.