With the teams together at four wins and two losses, the victor could find itself inside the top four at the conclusion of the weekend.
Squads
North Melbourne
B: Michael Firrito, Nathan Grima, Aaron Mullett
HB: Sam Gibson, Joel Tippett, Shaun Atley
C: Nick Dal Santo, Leigh Adams, Robin Nahas
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Aaron Black, Ben Cunnington
F: Majak Daw, Drew Petrie, Lachlan Hansen
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Brent Harvey
Int From: Ryan Bastinac, Levi Greenwood, Luke McDonald, Brad McKenzie, Ben Jacobs, Sam Wright, Scott Thompson
In: Sam Wright, Scott Thompson, Ben Jacobs
Gold Coast
B: K. Kolodjashnij, S. May, G. Broughton
HB: S. Lemmens, R. Thompson, T. McKenzie
C: M. Shaw, G. Ablett, J. Harbrow
HF: A. Hall, T. Lynch, D. Stanley
F: C. Dixon, S. Day, B. Matera
Fol: T. Nicholls, J. O’Meara, D. Swallow
Int From: T. Sumner, J. Taylor, D. Prestia, M. Rischitelli, T. Murphy, L. Russell, H. Bennell
In: Bennell, Dixon, Nicholls, Taylor, Murphy
Out: Warnock, Hutchins
Perth factor
So far this season three Victorian teams (Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, and Essendon) have lost the week after travelling to Patersons Stadium to face either West Coast or Fremantle.
North will attempt to break the trend on the fourth attempt and can look at its opponents as a sign that it can be done. Gold Coast lost to Fremantle in Perth in Round 2 but returned to Metricon Stadium the following week and defeated Brisbane comfortably by 53 points.
Also in the Kangaroos’ favour, no Victorian team has had the added benefit of a nine-day break like North has in preparing for Round 7. The Bulldogs had seven days, St Kilda eight and Essendon six.
Previous history
For a side who has still played less than 100 AFL games, Gold Coast already has some interesting history involving both North Melbourne and Etihad Stadium.
The Suns have not won a game at Etihad in six attempts, but did defeat North in the sides’ last meeting at Metricon Stadium.
On that night the game was played in the rain, but Suns’ coach Guy McKenna will do everything possible to make sure the roof is closed at Etihad on Sunday.
“You constantly ask the question of why would you leave it open? What benefit is there?,” he said.
“I can understand why it stays open, you get the sun on the grass but while there’s a game of footy on, I’m not sure that’s the time to be growing grass, probably.”
His comments would be music to the ears of Brad Scott after the infamous early-season clash against Geelong in 2013. The Etihad roof was left open during the afternoon, leaving the teams to play out the final quarter in the wet.
Quarter by quarter
So far 2014 has been a role-reversal for North, with the 2013 script flipped on its head. After only losing four first quarters all of last season, the Roos have surrendered the same amount in 2014.
However it has been countered by incredibly strong finishes. The Kangaroos have won five of six final terms this season, using the period as a catalyst for all four victories.
The difference defensively between the two teams in last quarters is vast. North has only conceded 98 points this year, the least in the league, while Gold Coast has let through 186 points to rank 16th.
Key matchups
Gary Ablett v North Melbourne
During the week Sam Gibson spoke of how it should be a team effort to contain the best player in the AFL. In previous outings against North a single player tagging Ablett hasn’t worked too well. In his three games for the Suns against North, Ablett has had a total of 113 possessions and eight goals.
Drew Petrie v Rory Thompson
Assuming Tom Nicholls returns to the Gold Coast lineup, Thompson will retreat to his preferred position of full-back and take Petrie.
The North key-forward performed well against a typically tough opponent in Luke McPharlin last week, getting the scoreboard reward for his consistent work off the ball. In Thompson he’ll find a 200 centimetre key defender who has the reach to negate his contested marking strength. It looms as an interesting battle.
Todd Goldstein v Tom Nicholls
With the midfield battle of such importance, the ruckman giving his team first use will be critical. Both North and Gold Coast rank mid-table in total hit-outs to advantage, but in opponent differential, the Suns slip to 18th.
Goldstein can take advantage of this at Etihad against Gold Coast, an opponent he typically notches a lot of hit-outs against. In three games against the Suns, he’s averaged almost 42 hit-outs compared to his career average of 28.
