Who: North Melbourne v West Coast
Where and when: Etihad Stadium, Sunday March 26, 1:10pm AEDT
TV and radio: Broadcast guide
Tickets: Purchase tickets
Storyline
By the time Sunday afternoon comes around, 179 days will have passed since North’s last game.
A multitude of changes have occurred in that time, and those at Etihad will have the first look at some new Kangaroos.
Six debutants will take the field with four – Jy Simpkin, Braydon Preuss, Mitch Hibberd and Declan Mountford – set to make their debuts.
Meanwhile the Eagles are tipped to play finals after several list changes of their own. High profile recruits Sam Mitchell, Nathan Vardy and Drew Petrie moved to Perth and will play.
Hot topics
Midfield matchups
Without Ben Cunnington (suspended), North’s midfield will be missing one of its premiere ball-winners. Trent Dumont’s impressive pre-season form will go a long way towards covering for Cunnington, while the speed of debutant Mountford adds another dimension.
North will have to nullify two Brownlow medallists in Matthew Priddis and Mitchell while shutting down the Eagle’s outside run. Brad Scott may look to Sam Gibson or Declan Mountford to tag with the former having played on Andrew Gaff in the past and the latter more than capable of executing a run-with role.
Forward pressure
Much of North’s pre-season has been based around its pressure and locking the ball into its forward half.
In recent history between the two sides, the Eagles’ half-backs have been able to have an influence with their rebound.
Sharrod Wellingham was arguably best on ground in the 2015 preliminary final, while Shannon Hurn has been a constant threat for multiple years with his penetration and ball use by foot.
If North is to come away with the four points, it will have to contend with these significant threats.
The debutants
Not since 2007 has North entered a game with four first-gamers. That afternoon was also the season opener against Collingwood, when Matt Campbell, Lachlan Hansen, Matt Riggio and Lindsay Thomas pulled on the royal blue and white.
Perhaps energised by the injection of youth, North was impressive for the majority of that afternoon against a side which would end up just one goal away from a Grand Final berth.
Mountford, Hibberd, Preuss and Simpkin will all have the same chance to make a name for themselves against an impressive Eagles’ outfit on Sunday.
Meeting an old friend
Sunday will see former Roo Drew Petrie pull on another club’s colours for the first time.
Recruited by West Coast in last year’s Rookie Draft, long-term injuries to Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett mean Petrie will be responsible for a large amount of his new side’s ruck duties.
It’ll mean coming up against Goldstein and Preuss, and when Petrie goes forward, he’ll likely be greeted by one of Robbie Tarrant, Scott Thompson or Lachlan Hansen in what should be an intriguing battle.
The burning questions
How will the ruck battle play out?
On paper it appears North has an advantage, with Goldstein/Preuss v Vardy/Petrie but will it be the difference?
What should we expect from the debutants?
The six new Roos will likely have important roles in their respective positions up forward, in the midfield and down back but will the new look team gel this early in the year?
What will North’s game style look like?
A number of new faces will naturally lend itself to fast-paced, exciting way of playing but will we see a significant difference in style from previous years?
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Mitchell Hibberd, Robbie Tarrant, Luke McDonald
HB: Marley Williams, Lachlan Hansen, Shaun Atley
C: Jamie Macmillan, Trent Dumont, Jy Simpkin
HF: Nathan Hrovat, Jarrad Waite, Declan Mountford
F: Lindsay Thomas, Braydon Preuss, Shaun Higgins
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow
Int: Scott Thompson, Kayne Turner, Sam Gibson, Ben Brown
Emer: Ryan Clarke, Ed Vickers-Willis, Sam Durdin
West Coast
B: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Brad Sheppard
HB: Jackson Nelson, Jeremy McGovern, Sharrod Wellingham
C: Elliot Yeo, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff
HF: Mark LeCras, Jack Darling, Lewis Jetta
F: Jamie Cripps, Josh Kennedy, Josh Hill
Fol: Nathan Vardy, Luke Shuey, Sam Mitchell
Int: Chris Masten, Jack Redden, Drew Petrie, Mark Hutchings
Emer: Dom Sheed, Will Schofield, Thomas Barrass
Last five encounters
Round 16, 2016: West Coast 16.8.104 defeated North Melbourne 11.6.72
Preliminary Final, 2015: West Coast 10.20.80 defeated North Melbourne 7.13.55
Round 10, 2015: North Melbourne 13.7.85 defeated West Coast 10.15.75
Round 11, 2014: West Coast 6.8.44 defeated by North Melbourne 12.10.82
Round 8, 2013: West Coast 12.18.90 defeated North Melbourne 13.10.88
