WHO: Sydney v North Melbourne
WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Friday May 27, 7:50pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE
SF, 2015, North Melbourne 11.11 (77) d Sydney Swans 7.9 (51) at ANZ Stadium
R11, 2015, Sydney Swans 14.7 (91) d North Melbourne 10.15 (75) at Etihad Stadium
PF, 2014, Sydney Swans 19.22 (136) d North Melbourne 9.11 (65) at ANZ Stadium
R4, 2014, North Melbourne 13.13 (91) d Sydney Swans 6.12 (48) at the SCG
R3, 2013, Sydney Swans 20.11 (131) d North Melbourne 13.14 (92) at Blundstone Arena
SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU)
The Kangaroos' quest for a 10-0 start to the season takes them to Sydney on the Friday night stage they dominated in the 90's, and they return to the harbour city for the first time since they ended the Swans' finals campaign last year.
The home side was missing Lance Franklin, Luke Parker, Kieren Jack and Sam Reid on that night, and while Reid hasn't been seen this season due to injury, the other three have been outstanding. Scott Thompson is likely to get first crack at Franklin, but Robbie Tarrant is also in great touch of late and has the speed and athleticism to go with the Swans star if need be.
The midfield battle between North's Jack Ziebell, Nick Dal Santo and Ben Cunnington, and Swans stars Parker, Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery is just about worth the price of a ticket alone.
Andrew Swallow and Nick Dal Santo will have a big role to play through the midfield.
THE HEADLINES
Tarrant one of the best
“He’s probably been one of the top key defenders in the comp, if not the best key defender going around at the moment.” MORE
Opposing threat
“100 per cent,” Lindsay Thomas said when asked whether a trip to Sydney is one of the toughest in football... MORE
Scott slams ludicrous claims
"If you tell an umpire this is what we're going to focus on, what do you think he's looking at?" MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
Backs M.Firrito 11 R.Tarrant 25 L.McDonald 21
Half Backs N.Dal Santo 15 S.Thompson 16 S.Atley 18
Centreline J.Ziebell 7 D.Wells 8 J.Macmillan 34
Half Forwards S.Gibson 43 J.Waite 30 B.Harvey 29
Forwards B.Brown 50 D.Petrie 20 L.Thomas 12
Followers T.Goldstein 22 A.Swallow 9 B.Cunnington 10
Interchange B.McKenzie 2 T.Dumont 14 S.Wright 19 R.Nahas 28
Emergencies A.Mullett 17 M.Wood 32 M.Daw 38
In: D.Wells , S.Wright
Out: F.Ray (Omitted), A.Mullett (Omitted)
Sydney
Backs D.Rampe 24 H.Grundy 39 Z.Jones 10
Half Backs N.Smith 40 J.Laidler 11 J.McVeigh 3
Centreline C.Mills 14 J.Kennedy 12 L.Parker 26
Half Forwards D.Hannebery 4 L.Franklin 23 H.Cunningham 7
Forwards I.Heeney 5 K.Tippett 8 B.McGlynn 21
Followers C.Sinclair 18 T.Mitchell 6 K.Jack 15
Interchange G.Hewett 29 J.Lloyd 44 H.Marsh 31 G.Rohan 16
Emergencies J.Hiscox 17 T.Nankervis 13 D.Towers 22
In: H Marsh
Out: T Richards (concussion)
THE COACH SAID
THE SIX STATS (AFL.com.au)
1. Not much separated the sides the last time they met in last year's semi-final at ANZ Stadium; North won the disposal count 358-335 and the inside 50s 51-48; but the Swans took more marks with 95-76 and laid more tackles with 76-61.
2. Despite the most recent result, the Swans have dominated North Melbourne recently, winning eight of the past 10 contests. The Kangaroos haven't won consecutive games against the Swans since 2004-05.
3. The Swans are the No.1 contested possession side in 2016, averaging 163 per game, compared to North Melbourne who are ranked eighth with an average of 145.8.
4. The teams have played 27 times at the SCG with the visitors winning 15 of those contests, but the Swans have won eight of the past 10 at the venue.
5. North Melbourne's tall forwards have been brilliant so far this season, with Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown and Drew Petrie combining for 57 goals.
6. Roos ruckman Todd Goldstein jumped up one spot to No.3 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings after dominating Carlton last week with 45 hit outs and three goals.
THE BURNING QUESTIONS
How will North’s midfield set up?
The last two times North Melbourne has played Sydney, Ben Jacobs has taken the crucial role of tagging Dan Hannebery.
Without Jacobs’ presence due to injury, it remains to be seen whether North opts to use an inside midfielder defensively. Ben Cunnington spent some time next to Patrick Cripps last week, a tactic that could be seen again.
How does North approach the Franklin matchup?
Given Franklin’s versatility and strength both aerially and at ground level, there could be a rotating cast of North defenders placed on the Swan.
All of Scott Thompson, Robbie Tarrant and Michael Firrito are a good chance to spend time on Franklin, with the bulk of the minutes perhaps depending on how close the forward stays to goal.
Who will have the advantage in the contest?
No team averages more contested disposals per game than Sydney, a clear area of strength thanks to the likes of Hannebery, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and company.
However, North’s midfield also prides itself on its work inside, setting the stage for an explosive encounter.
Will it be a low-scoring encounter?
Although much of the pre-match talk has focused on each side’s respective forward lines, past history at the SCG suggests the game will be won defensively.
No opposition side has scored more than 100 at the ground since 2013, while in Sydney’s last three losses there it has scored only 77, 73 and 48 points.
Can North continue its historic streak?
Only twice before have the Kangaroos won at least 10 matches in a row, a feat which could be reached for a third time on Friday night.
Perhaps of more importance though is the gap North can put between itself and Sydney. Defeating the Swans will open up a three-game gap between the sides after 10 rounds.
Lance Franklin will have a large say in Friday night's result.
