Both sides currently sit just outside of the top eight and a loss will make it extremely tough to feature in September.
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Lachlan Hansen, Scott Thompson, Aaron Mullett
HB: Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Grima, Scott McMahon
C: Sam Gibson, Daniel Wells, Shaun Atley
HF: Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Aaron Black, Robbie Tarrant, Lindsay Thomas
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int: Brad McKenzie, Ryan Bastinac, Leigh Adams, Taylor Hine
Emer: Luke Delaney, Levi Greenwood, Will Sierakowski
In: Scott McMahon, Lindsay Thomas
Out: Michael Firrito, Levi Greenwood (both omitted)
Carlton
B: Matthew Watson, Michael Jamison, Lachlan Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Andrew McInnes, Bryce Gibbs
C: Chris Yarran, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
HF: Ed Curnow, Andrew Walker, Jeff Garlett
F: Brock McLean, Sam Rowe, Heath Scotland
Fol: Matthew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy
Int: Andrew Carrazzo, Kane Lucas, Jaryd Cachia, Dennis Armfield
Midfield importance
North Melbourne
North’s midfield has been inconsistent, but an indisputable fact is when the group fires for four quarters, the Kangaroos are extremely tough to beat.
As a comparison, against Brisbane the likes of Daniel Rich, Pearce Hanley and Tom Rockliff got on top in the last quarter. However when North defeated Richmond, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Brett Deledio had minimal influence from start to finish with their collective quiet games a big reason in the Kangaroos’ win.
Carlton
For the Blues, captain Marc Murphy has had an interrupted season through injury, preventing him from leading the team to his normal high standards.
Elsewhere, Bryce Gibbs has spent more time in the midfield with Kade Simpson taking his spot off the half back line. And of course there is the ever present Chris Judd, who had a whopping 36 disposals the last time the sides met.
The X-factor looms as Chris Yarran. After a superb game against North in 2011, considerably more time was put into the speedy mid-forward last season and as a result, Carlton had a lot less speed through the middle.
Tall timber
North’s strengths in key position stocks at either end of the ground have been well documented. With Drew Petrie, Robbie Tarrant and Aaron Black all in good form in the forward 50, there is the potential to stretch the Carlton back line.
In the absence of Jarrad Waite, Lachlan Henderson has been thrown forward, leaving Michael Jamison and Matthew Watson as Carlton’s two key defenders.
When North is playing its best football, it’s the third key defender in the opposition that tends to get caught out more often than not. Unless Mick Malthouse is willing to sacrifice the in-form Henderson to move him back, there is a possibility Tarrant or Black could have a favourable matchup.
Coaching battles
In Malthouse’s time at Collingwood, the Pies faced North and Brad Scott on three occasions, emerging victorious each time.
However Collingwood and North were both at different stages of their development, with the Roos midfield simply unable to handle the bigger bodies of Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury and co.
Coming into this encounter, North is as well placed as ever to defeat Malthouse for the first time in Scott’s tenure.
Scott also moves into outright seventh place in most games coached for North, passing Keith McKenzie with game number 83. Next on the list is Bob McCaskill with 102.
Season defining
North Melbourne
At 6-9, two games out of the eight and with a tough run to the finish line, it’s clear how vital every game is to North.
In its favour are five of the seven games being at home and just one interstate trip (the remaining game is at the MCG). However home comforts won’t mean much if the side is out of finals contention with a month to go in the season.
Carlton
The Blues are slightly better placed than the Roos at 7-8. A win would level their win-loss ledger. In the run home they have just two games (Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs) where they would enter as favourites. Just as much as North, Friday night looms as a must-win.
