It may have looked like an easy match at the start of the season but North Melbourne’s round 16 clash with Richmond has become anything but. With the Tigers well and truly off the bottom of the table and playing some inspiring football, the Kangaroos will have to be at their best in order to keep their season alive.
This week looms as a danger game for the ninth-placed Roos as Richmond is in a rich vain of form having won five of its last six matches. The goal kicking exploits of Jack Riewoldt can not be doubted and Brad Scott will be hoping his defenders are on song come Sunday.
A win is critical to North Melbourne’s season, and the loss of Drew Petrie could make things more difficult for the boys from Arden Street.
kangaroos.com.au looks at how the two teams match up for their clash at the MCG.
Games played: 147 - North Melbourne 64, Richmond 81, 2 draws
Coaches: Brad Scott (NM) 15 games, Damien Hardwick (RICH) 15 games
Captains: Brent Harvey (NM) 294 games, Chris Newman (RICH) 168 games
2010 debutants:
North Melbourne - Ryan Bastinac, Ben Cunnington, Nathan O'Keefe
Richmond - Jeromey Webberley, Troy Taylor, Relton Roberts, Ben Nason, Dustin Martin, Ben Griffiths, Matt Dea, David Astbury
Departures:
North Melbourne - Josh Gibson, Daniel Harris, Sam Power, Matt Riggio, Adam Simpson, Jesse Smith, Shannon Watt, Michael Wundke
Richmond - Joel Bowden, Nathan Brown, Mark Coughlan, Cleve Hughes, Kane Johnson, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Adam Pattison, Kayne Pettifer, Graham Polak, Dean Putt, Andrew Raines, Matthew Richardson, Jay Schulz
Avg. age (start of 2010): North Melbourne 22 years 195 days, Richmond 22 years 152 days
Avg. games (start of 2010): North Melbourne 43, Richmond 42
Most experienced player: Brent Harvey (NM) 294 games, Ben Cousins (RICH) 263 games
Tallest: Hamish McIntosh (NM) 203cm, Andrew Browne (RICH) 205cm
Shortest: Matt Campbell (NM) 170cm, Robin Nahas (RICH) 176cm
2009 placing: North Melbourne 13th (7 wins, 14 losses, 1 draw), Richmond 15th (5 wins, 16 losses, 1 draw)
Leading goal scorer 2009: Drew Petrie (NM) 27, Mitch Morton (RICH) 41
Best and Fairest 2009: Andrew Swallow (NM), Brett Deledio (RICH)
The last five: Round 16, 2009 - North Melbourne 12.13.85 drew Richmond 12.13.85
Round 5, 2009 - Richmond 13.16.94 def North Melbourne 7.16.58
Round 2, 2008 - North Melbourne 20.7.127 def Richmond 13.8.86
Round 14, 2007 - North Melbourne 14.20.104 def Richmond 11.13.79
Round 11, 2006 - Richmond 15.12.102 def North Melbourne 9.13.67
Last week: North Melbourne 7.13.55 lost to Sydney 12.13.85
Richmond 15.10.100 def Fremantle 11.15.81
Leading possession winners 2010: Brady Rawlings (NM) 409, Brett Deledio (RICH) 394
Leading goal scorers 2010: Lindsay Thomas (NM) 28, Jack Riewoldt (RICH) 58
Dream Team specialists: Andrew Swallow (NM) 1373, Brett Deledio (RICH) 1406
