WHO: North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, April 29, 7.50pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE:
R22, 2015, Western Bulldogs 14.12 (96) d North Melbourne 10.13 (73) at Etihad Stadium
R21, 2014, North Melbourne 17.9 (111) d Western Bulldogs 8.13 (61) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2014, North Melbourne 12.11 (83) d Western Bulldogs 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2013, North Melbourne 22.19 (151) d Western Bulldogs 15.7 (97) at Etihad Stadium
R19, 2012, North Melbourne 18.7 (115) d Western Bulldogs 8.13 (61) at Etihad Stadium
SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU):
An irresistible force will meet an immovable object when the AFL's most damaging attacking team, North, takes on the Western Bulldogs' miserly defensive unit in a mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash. It's been four long years since the Bulldogs last played on a Friday night, and Luke Beveridge's men fully deserve their shot on the big stage. The Dogs have continued to play an exciting brand despite the losses of skipper Bob Murphy and dynamic half-back Jason Johannisen, but time will tell if a mounting injury toll will eventually weigh down the young side. The Roos have somehow flown under the radar, despite being the only undefeated team, although Brad Scott's men are likely to face their most searching examination this year against the Dogs, who have won 13 of their past 14 games at Etihad Stadium.
Jack Ziebell has been in fine form in the opening five rounds.
THE HEADLINES:
Dogfight, not shootout (Apr 27, 2016)
Brad Scott says predictions of a North Melbourne-Western Bulldogs shootout on Friday night could come unstuck… MORE
ET: North's air attack (Apr 26, 2016)
It'll be a clash of styles at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, and North’s tall timber up forward will be key factors… MORE
Opposing Threat: Bulldogs (Apr 26, 2016)
No doubt it's North's biggest game of 2016 so far, and it will be facing a Western Bulldogs side currently showcasing its impressive depth… MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
Backs M.Firrito 11 R.Tarrant 25 L.McDonald 21
Half Backs S.Wright 19 S.Thompson 16 S.Atley 18
Centreline S.Gibson 43 D.Wells 8 N.Dal Santo 15
Half Forwards B.Brown 50 J.Waite 30 L.Thomas 12
Forwards B.Harvey 29 D.Petrie 20 S.Higgins 4
Followers T.Goldstein 22 B.Jacobs 5 J.Ziebell 7
Interchange A.Swallow 9 B.Cunnington 10 J.Macmillan 34 K.Turner 40
Emergencies L.Hansen 6 A.Mullett 17 M.Wood 32
No change
Western Bulldogs
Backs M.Boyd 5 M.Adams 33 D.Morris 38
Half Backs J.Adcock 44 E.Wood 10 S.Biggs 24
Centreline L.Hunter 7 T.Liberatore 21 T.Dickson 29
Half Forwards L.Picken 42 T.Campbell 15 K.Stevens 25
Forwards L.Dahlhaus 6 J.Stringer 9 T.McLean 16
Followers J.Roughead 23 J.Macrae 11 M.Bontempelli 4
Interchange M.Wallis 3 F.Roberts 18 B.Dale 31 L.Jong 46
Emergencies M.Honeychurch 22 K.Collins 32 J.Redpath 43
In: F.Roberts
Out: M.Suckling (Ankle)
Fletcher Roberts is in for his first game of 2016.
THE COACH SAID:
THE SIX STATS (AFL.com.au):
1. The Western Bulldogs lead the AFL in disposals, averaging 454.2 per game. The Kangaroos are a lot further down the list, ranked 12th with 363.8 per game.
2. Nothing separates these teams with 76 wins each and three draws from 155 contests. Since 2009, it's six wins to five in the Bulldogs' favour.
3. North is the highest scoring side after five games, averaging 122 points per game. The Roos have registered more than 100 points in all five matches.
4. Another win for the Kangaroos and it will be the first time since 1979 the club has won their first six games of the season.
5. It's a rare Friday night blockbuster between these two teams. The most recent was in round 10, 2001, while the Bulldogs haven’t played any Friday night games at all since early in 2012.
6. Revitalised Roo Jarrad Waite has climbed 55 places up the Official AFL Player Ratings to 74th overall after a stellar five rounds, including 18 majors.
Jarrad Waite will be vital to North's chances on Friday night.
THE BURNING QUESTIONS:
Shootout or contested battle?
The much-anticipated match will see North, the competition's No.1 attacking team, face the Bulldogs, who are the league's No.1 contested possession and defensive outfit. The Roos have averaged four goals more per game than the Bulldogs after five rounds, but the Bulldogs have conceded 42 points fewer than North. Coach Brad Scott this week said winning the contested ball would be critical to his team's chances this Friday night.
Can North curtail the Dogs' run?
The Dogs' half-back line has been decimated by injury in the last three weeks, with captain Bob Murphy (knee), Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Matt Suckling (knee and ankle) all going down. Backman Shane Biggs has stepped up to fill the shortages, skipper Easton Wood returned from a hamstring injury last week and young gun Tom Liberatore spent much of last week's 53-point win over the Lions across half-back, so the Bulldogs' trademark run from defence cannot be taken for granted.
Who will be on top of the ladder?
The top-of-the-table clash under lights at Etihad Stadium will strengthen either side's finals credentials. With 123.9 per cent, ladder leader North sits undefeated after five rounds and has a chance to make it six straight for the first time in 37 years, but a win for the second-placed Bulldogs will see them claim top spot on the ladder courtesy of their healthy 173.5 percentage. We're in for a great spectacle under the roof.
Will height favour North's tall forwards?
The Bulldogs' backline looks notably undersized on paper, with experienced heads Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris leading the charge. The pair along with mature-age full-back Marcus Adams will be aiming to work off their opponent and intercept mark, before dishing off to their hard-running half-backs. They'll stick to their preferred game style that has worked well under coach Luke Beveridge, but tall timber Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown will certainly cause a few headaches. Brown took the honours for the Roos last week, using his evasive skills and agility to snare four goals against the Suns.
Who goes to Jake Stringer?
The 22-year-old leads the Bulldogs' goalkicking tally with 11, kicking three majors last week against the Brisbane Lions after being kept goalless the week prior against Carlton for the first time in 12 months. North's defensive group will no doubt take a collective approach in trying to limit Stringer's influence, with seasoned veteran Michael Firrito an obvious choice to combat the star forward in one-on-one contests with his brute strength and frame.
Jake Stringer and Shaun Higgins face off in the teams' last meeting.
