WHO: North Melbourne v St Kilda
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday, July 30, 7.25pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE
R7, 2016, North Melbourne 11.16 (82) d St Kilda 11.9 (75) at Etihad Stadium
R20, 2015, North Melbourne 18.12 (120) d St Kilda 11.17 (83) at Etihad Stadium
R17, 2014, North Melbourne 13.14 (92) d St Kilda 3.15 (33) at Blundstone Arena
R10, 2013, North Melbourne 19.19 (133) d St Kilda 10.5 (65) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2012, North Melbourne 21.10 (136) d St Kilda 15.13 (103) at Etihad Stadium
SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU)
Milestones don't come any bigger than breaking the all-time VFL/AFL games record and North Melbourne will be desperate to celebrate Brent Harvey's achievement with a win, but this clash will also have huge ramifications for the top eight.
North can all but seal finals football for a third year in a row, while St Kilda could close within a game of the eighth-placed Roos.
The Saints spectacularly outran the Western Bulldogs last Saturday night and have now won five of their last six games, which included an upset of Geelong at Etihad Stadium.
St Kilda has become specialists under the roof and has pace to burn, which could seriously trouble North Melbourne's midfield.
The Roos easily accounted for Collingwood last round to end a five-game losing streak, but have they turned the corner? We'll find out plenty about these teams in round 19.
Brent Harvey is set to break the all-time games record on Saturday night.
THE HEADLINES
Focus on 12th win
Notwithstanding the fact we're celebrating an incredible milestone, Boomer himself is firmly focused on that 12th win."… MORE
Opposing Threat: St Kilda
Pressure, pressure and more pressure; that’s been the key to St Kilda’s excellent recent form… MORE
An emerging ball magnet
As Ryan Clarke made a name for himself in the junior ranks, a common description of the midfielder was ‘ball magnet’… MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
Backs S.Thompson M.Firrito S.Atley
Half Backs J.Macmillan R.Tarrant N.Dal Santo
Centreline S.Gibson D.Wells R.Clarke
Half Forwards J.Ziebell B.Brown B.Harvey
Forwards L.Thomas D.Petrie J.Waite
Followers T.Goldstein B.Cunnington A.Swallow
Interchange B.McKenzie J.Anderson T.Dumont A.Mullett
Emergencies M.Daw C.Wagner D.Mountford
In: J.Waite
Out: M.Daw (Omitted)
St Kilda
Backs D. Roberton S. Dempster J. Geary
Half Backs J. Newnes S. Gilbert D. McKenzie
Centreline S. Savage S. Ross L. Montagna
Half Forwards M. Weller N. Riewoldt J. Billings
Forwards T. Membrey J. Bruce J. Gresham
Followers T. Hickey D. Armitage J. Steven
Interchange L. Dunstan B. Acres N. Wright D. Minchington
Emergencies E. Templeton L. Delaney J. Sinclair
In: D. Minchington
Out: J. Sinclair (Omitted)
Jarrad Waite will play just his second game since Round 12.
THE COACH SAID - BRAD SCOTT
"It's not just about qualifying (for finals), you've got to be playing really good footy at the right time of the year.
"We're confident we're going to finish off the back half of the season really well.
"We're looking forward. We're not looking over our shoulders at who's chasing us. We're looking forward at what we want to achieve over the next five weeks and beyond."
THE OPPOSITION SAID - JADE GRESHAM
"I guess there's a bit of confidence growing. But we can't get too ahead of ourselves. We've got to take it week by week."
THE SIX STATS (AFL.com.au)
1. North has dominated the Saints in recent times, winning the past five encounters. St Kilda hasn't beaten the Roos since round 23, 2011.
2. St Kilda's record away from home has left a bit to be desired, but the Saints have won seven in a row at Etihad Stadium, including victories over the finals-bound Cats and Bulldogs this season.
3. Another win and St Kilda will have had its best season since 2012, when it finished ninth with 12 wins. North Melbourne is aiming to book a third-straight finals berth.
4. At the ripe old age of 38, Brent Harvey is closing in on his best goal tally in a season. 'Boomer' has booted 29 majors, only seven fewer than his career-high of 36 in 2007.
5. The Saints have the best disposal efficiency of any team at 75.3 per cent, while the Kangaroos are ranked eighth at 73.6 per cent.
6. Dynamic St Kilda midfielder Jack Steven has climbed into the top 10 of the Schick Official Player Ratings for the first time. Steven started the year in 72nd spot but is up to 10th after his 39-disposal, one-goal performance against the Bulldogs.
Jack Stevens had a great day against the Bulldogs last week.
THE BURNING QUESTIONS
Who wins the battle of the talls?
Petrie, Brown, Waite vs Riewoldt, Membrey, Bruce - the Roos' trio have combined for 80 goals this year, while St Kilda's big three have contributed 90.
Waite has played just the one game in Round 12 and is a huge inclusion for the 'home' team, but perhaps it's the Saints' Membrey who looms as the most dangerous forward.
The former Swan has booted 34 goals in 12 games this year, and will need to be paid close attention to.
Tarrant, Thompson and Firrito all have huge jobs on their hands.
Can Harvey keep his milestone record going?
The new games-record holder has an impeccable history in milestone games, winning eight of eight in half century and century milestones througout his career.
Harvey's teammates will no doubt be doing everything they can to keep that streak going.
Can North stop Jack Steven?
The Saints' onballer has been in remarkable form this year, averaging almost 30 disposals a game.
His past three weeks have been huge, with 41 touches against Essendon and 39 against the Bulldogs.
When the teams last met, Ben Jacobs was able to restrict Steven to just 15 disposals. With their designated tagger missing, will the Roos opt to negate him with another midfield option?
Will Lindsay fire again?
Missing from the team when North last played St Kilda, Lindsay Thomas has been in a rich vein of form of late.
Thomas has booted 16 goals in the last five games, and would like nothing more than to fire again for his great mate Brent Harvey.
“It’s something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life this game, running alongside the little champion,” Thomas said of Harvey's milestone.
“I said to him I’m going to give him his first goal, so I am definitely going to try and look for him.”
Will Clarke step up again?
Emerging midfielder Ryan Clarke has improved in each of his three games so far, exciting North's coaches and fans alike.
The hard-running Roo just seems to find the ball at whichever levels he plays, with a bright future ahead at Arden Street.
After 27 disposals last week, the youngster will be looking to continue an outstanding start to his career.
Ryan Clarke was the Round 18 Rising Star nominee.
