Sandringham v North Melbourne
Saturday, June 2
Trevor Barker Beach Oval
First bounce: 2.10pm (AEST)
Storyline
A potential spot in the top eight is on the line when North Melbourne’s VFL side hits the road to face a resurgent Sandringham outfit at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
After tallying its highest score of 2018 last week, the Zebras will be looking to spoil the recent good form of the Roos.
The game will be North’s second consecutive televised outing with Channel 7 screening the Round 9 encounter as part of its ‘Match of the Day’ broadcast.
Hit-out leaders on show
After a commanding display in the ruck last weekend, Braydon Preuss will challenge big man Billy Longer in a key match-up at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Preuss made a statement in Round 8, earning 48 hit-outs in North’s 36-point win over Box Hill.
Although Preuss alternated with Tristan Xerri at the stoppages, he was a stand-out on a memorable day for the royal blue and white, taking several marks in North’s forward line.
In Longer, Preuss is tasked with the challenge of limiting an equally forceful ruckman who continues to put out big numbers week on week.
Longer leads the competition for average hit-outs per game, his efforts underlined last weekend when he racked up 57 for the day.
Battle of contested footy
North’s engine room was in overdrive against Box Hill, dominating in and around the stoppage for the best part of three quarters.
Tireless performances from co-captain Chris Jansen, Nash Holmes, Nick Rippon and Paul Ahern allowed the Roos to post a formidable number in this area, ousting Box Hill 168-145 in contested possessions.
Ahern has been rewarded for his consistency, earning a call-up to the AFL, where he will make his senior debut against Brisbane at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
For the third week in a row, Holmes was amongst the best for tackles laid, with his hard-work and aggression around stoppages proving invaluable.
If North can continue to win the footy in the trenches, the likes Gordon Narrier and Will Walker are sure to find plenty of the footy on the outside.
Narrier was given first use of the footy twice against Box Hill, with both efforts resulting in highlight-reel goals.
Defensive resolve
With both sides having restricted their opposition forward line to less than a hundred points for consecutive weeks, the defensive battle will be a prominent storyline on Saturday afternoon.
North’s resilient defence has been particularly impressive in recent weeks, having limited the forward impact of reigning premiers Port Melbourne and joint-ladder leaders Box Hill in the past fortnight.
This has been in part due to the aerial dominance shown by key defenders Ben McKay and Sam Durdin, with the latter returning after gaining valuable experience on the big stage in Perth.
Having highlighted their effectiveness against some of the best forwards in the competition, the pair will be tested with in-form Ray Connellan, Josh Battle and Nathan Smith named for the hosts.
The trio combined for nine goals in Sandringham’s 51-point win over Werribee, allowing the Zebras to tally their highest score of the season so far.
Meanwhile, rampant forward pairing Nick Larkey and Cameron Zurhaar will look to continue their rich goal scoring form after adding nine majors to North’s total score against Box Hill.
Larkey is having a breakout season and leads the competition with 19 goals.
Sandringham team
B: Carnovale, Joyce, Cook
HB: Clavarino, Goddard, Weickhardt
C: Batten, Armitage, Langlands
HF: Connellan, Battle, Wright
F: Haidon, Mclean, Smith
R: Longer, Answerth, Seccull
Int: Bailey, Coffield, Lamb, Matera, Parsons, Paton, Sziller, Verma
23P: Hille
Burning questions
Can North secure back-to-back wins on the road?
Recent form has seen the Roos unseat two top-eight sides.
A repeat of that effort will put North in a strong position to secure back-to-back wins on the road for the first time in the season proper, and a place in the top eight.
Can Sandringham contain North’s in-form talls?
When the given the freedom to roam, North’s tall forwards are becoming increasingly difficult to stop.
Cameron Zurhaar allowed the Roos to burst out of the blocks against Box Hill, booting two goals inside of ten minutes. Working in tandem with Larkey, who kicked five from five, the pair are beginning to form a formidable partnership.
If North’s midfield brigade is able to break lines early, another fast start could be on the cards.
Which AFL-listed will continue push for senior selection?
Competition for places has lifted the intensity for the AFL-listed players pushing for a senior call-up.
David Loader has retained in-form trio Luke Davies-Uniacke, Gordon Narrier and Cameron Zurhaar, while welcoming back Nathan Hrovat and Sam Durdin amongst a handful of others.
As consistency continues to be a key theme amongst the playing group, a stand-out performance on the Channel 7 broadcast could provide the platform for those on the cusp for a return to the AFL.
Fans are invited to attend Saturday’s VFL match against Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, with the first bounce at 2.10pm. The game will be broadcast live on Channel 7.
