The business end of the season is almost here, with North Melbourne pushing for a finals berth.
North Media takes a deeper look at the final stretch of games.
Our current position
10th place - 24 points (six wins, six losses), 87.89 percent
With just six remaining games in the season proper, North will face three sides boasting spots inside the eight.
The Roos’ split win/loss ratio so far highlights the ultra-competitive nature of the VFL, having scored several upsets against higher positioned teams, including reigning premiers Port Melbourne and the fifth-placed Box Hill.
North’s run home is heavily weighted from the front, with its most difficult fixtures on paper coming in the early weeks.
Despite facing the competition-leading Casey and Richmond consecutively, North will like its chances against Collingwood, Williamstown and Werribee, having not crossed paths with these teams this season.
A favourable chance at revenge against Frankston in Round 16 will end a three-week spell on the road, where the royal blue and white will have travelled to Casey, Beaconsfield and Frankston.
North suffered its first loss against Frankston in Round 3, going down in a 13-point thriller.
Four consecutive games at Avalon Airport Oval, sandwiched on either side of North’s final bye in Round 20, gives the Roos a chance to bid farewell to their temporary home with a run of successive games.
A potential final berth will likely hinge on positive results against Collingwood, Williamstown and Footscray, with just a single win and percentage currently separating North from the top four.
The run home
R15: Richmond @ Holm Park
R16: Frankston @ Frankston Oval
R17: Collingwood @ Avalon Airport Oval
R18: Williamstown @ Avalon Airport Oval
R19: Footscray @ Avalon Airport Oval
R20: Bye
R21: Werribee @ Avalon Airport Oval
The log-jam for positions in the top four are taken up by the sides presently holdings spots from fourth to ninth, being Essendon, Box Hill, Collingwood, Williamstown, Port Melbourne and Footscray.
North’s season could be decided in a crunch month, where four of the aforementioned sides face the Roos, with three of those games being played at home.
Fans are invited to attend Saturday’s VFL match against Richmond at Holm Park, with the first bounce at 2.10pm.