For the second year in a row, North Melbourne will play an interstate preliminary final.
This time it appears to be in much better shape, travelling to Perth with ‘a quiet confidence’, according to coach Brad Scott.
Standing between the Kangaroos and a Grand Final appearance is the red hot West Coast, well rested after a 32-point victory over Hawthorn in the qualifying final.
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Michael Firrito, Scott Thompson, Shaun Atley
HB: Lachlan Hansen, Jamie Macmillan, Sam Gibson
C: Sam Wright, Jack Ziebell, Ben Jacobs
HF: Shaun Higgins, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo
F: Kayne Turner, Jarrad Waite, Brent Harvey
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Ben Cunnington
Int: Ben Brown, Lindsay Thomas, Taylor Garner, Robbie Tarrant
Emer: Ryan Bastinac, Luke McDonald, Robbie Nahas
In: Robbie Tarrant
Out: Luke McDonald (omitted)
Milestone – Nick Dal Santo, 300 games
West Coast
B: Shannon Hurn, Will Schofield, Sharrod Wellingham
HB: Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern, Brad Sheppard
C: Jamie Cripps, Matt Priddis, Matt Rosa
HF: Dom Sheed, Jack Darling, Mark LeCras
F: Josh Hill, Josh J. Kennedy, Callum Sinclair
Fol: Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff
Int: Sam Butler, Xavier Ellis, Mark Hutchings, Chris Masten
Emg: Patrick McGinnity, Scott Selwood, Scott Lycett
In: Matt Priddis, Chris Masten
Out: Scott Selwood, Patrick McGinnity (both omitted)
Taking what you’re given
“You’ve got to play what the opposition gives you.
“If the opportunity is down the line and Goldstein’s got a mismatch, then you can probably take that. Or you have to find another way through.
“Saying you have to kick it long or short every time doesn’t apply at this level of footy.”
Those were the words of Nick Dal Santo when questioned on how to combat West Coast’s defensive structure.
In the absence of multiple best-22 key position defenders, the Eagles have put together a plan that has made them one of the stingiest teams in the competition.
More of a zone defence than a typical man-to-man, opposition sides are usually faced with a percentage choice down the line or a riskier kick through the middle. The latter can also be high-reward but in the event of a turnover almost guarantees a West Coast shot on goal.
So the Kangaroos will have to be flexible at Domain Stadium and be able to read their opposition’s set up well. They were able to do this in windy conditions at Hobart in June, adjusting their style in the last quarter to triumph in a close encounter.
Home crowd factor
When West Coast defeated Hawthorn a fortnight ago, a feature was the passion of the Eagles’ fan base. Jordan Lewis admitted to surprise at the noise levels.
“It’s pretty vivid in our memories,” Lewis told media during the week.
“We were intimidated a little bit by the crowd…we got overawed by it a little bit.”
However there was the qualifier to the statement of Hawthorn’s previous two games being relatively tame lead-ins; one in Tasmania against Brisbane and a dead rubber in Round 23 against Carlton.
How North responds to the sell-out crowd will be a fascinating sub-plot to the game. In theory, it should be better prepared than the Hawks were for West Coast, considering the 90,000+ who attended the MCG for the elimination final.
The noise during the clash against Richmond was exceptional, with the Tigers fans attempting to roar their side home to victory. Just as North silenced that supporter base, it will have to do the same on Saturday night in Perth.
Goldstein v Naitanui
The battle between arguably the two best ruckman in the AFL took another twist during the week. Goldstein’s well deserved All Australian nod meant there was no room for Naitanui.
Back in Round 11, it was Goldstein who took the points in the ruck duel, finishing with 47 hit-outs to Naitanui’s 30 and helping his side to a 47-39 clearance edge.
If Goldstein can work his magic around the ground in addition to his customary stoppage advantage around the ground, it will give the Roos a huge edge, one which many sides haven’t been able to have against West Coast in 2015.
Of the Eagles’ four losses this season with Naitanui in the side (he did not play in Round 19 against Hawthorn), the ruckman has been relatively ineffective in all of them. His hit-out advantage in Round 1 didn’t translate to West Coast clearances, Sandilands and Goldstein took the points in Rounds 3 and 10 respectively, while Sam Jacobs was one of Adelaide’s best in its first quarter barrage in Round 22.
North’s midfield has been in excellent finals form after the slow start against Richmond. If Goldstein can feed them first use for a third straight week, the Kangaroos have every chance of pulling off a Grand Final appearance from eighth place.
