Who: North Melbourne v Sydney
Where and when: Sunday May 14, Etihad Stadium, 4:40pm EST
TV and radio: Broadcast guide
Tickets: Purchase tickets
Storyline
To finish Round 8, two teams coming off heavy wins battle at Etihad Stadium.
North Melbourne thumped premiership favourites Adelaide by 59 points, while Sydney broke its duck for 2017, accounting for Brisbane to the tune of 54 points at the SCG.
It will only be the sixth time the two sides have met at Etihad, with recent clashes largely taking place at ANZ Stadium, the SCG and Blundstone Arena.
North has made five inclusions into its 25-man squad, while Sydney has made three.
Hot topics
Restricting the rebound
North’s forward pressure has been a consistent focus area for the side, and was again a feature against Adelaide.
The Crows were only able to turn a rebound 50 into a scoring shot on three out of 48 occasions, while on the other hand North was able to consistently force turnovers and send it back into the forward 50.
On the faster track of Etihad Stadium, the Roos will need to step up another level to maintain a similar pressure on the Swans’ rebounding half-backs.
Changing of the guard
Although it’s only been 10 matches since North last faced the Swans, there has been a considerable change in the Roos’ personnel.
There’ll be at least nine changes from Round 22, 2016 – Nick Dal Santo, Majak Daw, Michael Firrito, Brent Harvey, Brad McKenzie, Drew Petrie, Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas and Daniel Wells – all either not at the club or not selected for this week.
In their place are a number of youngsters; Ed Vickers-Willis, Ryan Clarke, Mason Wood and company all relishing the extra responsibility.
The returning cavalry
Sydney has been hit hard by injuries early in the season, but appears to be growing closer to putting its best 22 on the field.
After welcoming back Jarrad McVeigh last week, Kurt Tippett and Gary Rohan have been named in the Swans’ 25-man squad for this Sunday.
While teams are still to be finalised, if the duo make their return North will be facing one of Sydney’s stronger line-ups of the season so far.
The burning questions
How will North’s forward line function without Jarrad Waite?
Waite’s importance to the side has been shown by the scoring numbers in his absence, North scoring almost five fewer goals a match when the forward is unavailable.
Will an eight-day break help North?
North’s last eight-day break involved a trip to Perth, but this time it has only had to return from Hobart, with the luxury of preparing for a home clash at Etihad Stadium.
Can North continue its improved finishes?
After winning only one quarter after half-time in the first five rounds, the Roos have won all four in the last two weeks.
Teams
North Melbourne
B: Luke McDonald, Robbie Tarrant, Ed Vickers-Willis
HB: Lachlan Hansen, Scott Thompson, Jamie Macmillan
C: Sam Gibson, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Atley
HF: Kayne Turner, Mason Wood, Ryan Clarke
F: Nathan Hrovat, Ben Brown, Shaun Higgins
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Trent Dumont
Int: Marley Williams, Jed Anderson, Jy Simpkin, Sam Durdin
Emer: Andrew Swallow, Braydon Preuss, Declan Mountford
In: Sam Durdin, Jy Simpkin
Out: Jarrad Waite (suspension), Corey Wagner (ankle)
Sydney
B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Jake Lloyd
HB: Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Melican, Callum Mills
C: Isaac Heeney, Josh Kennedy, Zak Jones
HF: Harry Cunningham, Sam Reid, George Hewett
F: Dean Towers, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley
Fol: Sam Naismith, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery
Int: Oliver Florent, Will Hayward, Harry Marsh, Callum Sinclair
Emer: Nic Newman, Gary Rohan, Kurt Tippett
No change
