• North and Geelong have played four times in Round 19 in the past.
North has won three of those four matches, with the most recent Round 19 encounter in 2011.
That match was also at Etihad Stadium with North running out victors by 49 points. Adam Simpson had an equal career-high 41 possessions but interestingly didn’t receive a single Brownlow vote. His team-mate David King received the best on ground honours for 25 disposals and 3 goals.
• Steve Johnson will play just his second game against North out of the last five meetings.
Sam Wright held him in check the last time Johnson played. The Geelong midfielder had just 13 possessions with Wright’s role a crucial part of North’s victory.
• It’s only the second time since Etihad Stadium has opened where two meetings between the sides in one season have been at the same venue.
With 10 of the last 17 games (before Friday night) held at Simonds Stadium, it is the first time North and Geelong have met twice in one season since 2008. Coincidentally that was also the last season the two sides faced off on a Friday night.
A North side featuring a host of youngsters battled valiantly against the reigning premiers before going down narrowly by 13 points. However, it was the experienced players that led the way on the night with Brent Harvey, Daniel Harris and Simpson the top three possession-getters for the Roos.
• In eight games at the ground, North and Geelong is tied at four wins apiece.
North has won just one of the past five games against Geelong at Etihad after winning the first three encounters by an average margin of 31 points.
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• Against Victorian clubs, North’s highest winning margin over Geelong (68 points) is its second lowest.
Essendon (59 points) is the only Victorian team North is yet to defeat by 10 goals or more.
Conversely, North’s highest ever winning margin (141 points) is against a Victorian club (Richmond).
Written with assistance from Ange Cristoforo
