Two-time premiership captain Wayne Carey has spoken of the deep-seeded rivalry between North Melbourne and Essendon.

Writing for The Age, Carey said the geography of the neighbouring teams had ‘played the greatest role in the combative instincts that these teams share’.

“Just think about it. How often have you, genuinely, praised a neighbouring team? Offered your admiration? Shown humility? No, that's not footy's way,” Carey said.

“Most of us are raised as one-eyed as those Magpies supporters we love to hate, but we just don't like to admit it. And when you herd the supporters of two teams into what is effectively the same region of Melbourne, it's easy to understand why the rivalry that exists between these sides is deep seeded.”

Carey pointed to his playing days for an illustration of the teams’ rivalry.

“Just cast your minds back to 1998 and the infamous "Marshmallow Match" that Kevin Sheedy orchestrated by suggesting North's hierarchy was soft.

“Sheeds may have been the master of promotion, but his comments still caused an enormous stir and resulted in one of footy's most famous scenes - the Bombers coach being sent packing from the MCG under a hailstorm of marshmallows when his side lost the qualifying final by 22 points.

“While most of the players who'll step out on Friday night will be too young to remember those scenes, Dustin Fletcher and Brent Harvey were playing back then and are likely aware of the growing rivalry that their teams are forging once more.”

The Roos’ win in last year’s Elimination Final will no doubt have gone a long way to intensifying that rivalry.

“Not only are many of Essendon and North fans still neighbours, but so too are the players. They drink their coffee at the same cafes, dine in the same restaurants and often enjoy a beer in the same pubs. Being the top dog in any of those situations would bring a certain level of pride and satisfaction. Equally, being on a lower rung can breed jealousy and resentment.

“Indeed, after meeting in the finals last year, the Kangas and Bombers are in similar situations in terms of their development. With the exceptions of Fletch and Boomer, both sides boast relatively young lists, yet have enough experience and talent to be genuine finals contenders.

“And their clashes are always entertaining affairs. Not only are they great physical contests, but they're usually high scoring. Genuine shootouts.”

"Carey said Friday night’s match looms as an intriguing test of where each team is at.

“Ever since their Anzac Day clash against Collingwood, Essendon's players have appeared slightly lost on the field when under pressure,” he added.

“In their bid to retain possession, they've begun chipping the ball around so much that they're no longer advancing forward. Instead, they're bizarrely going to options sideways and backwards and the player receiving the ball is often under as much pressure, if not more, than the player giving it.

“Not only has it resulted in needless turnovers, but it's also giving their forwards little hope.

“I'd actually go so far as to say that it's the ugliest football in the game right now. Even Carlton, for all their struggles, produce a brand of football that's better to watch.

“It's impossible to know if they're still getting used to a new game plan under James Hird, but a repeat act against North will likely be disastrous.”

Carey is more positive about the Roos’ prospects.

“So good was the Kangaroos' pressure against Richmond last week that they doubled the league's average score from turnovers. They were ferocious when they didn't have the ball, yet retained the poise and nous needed to convert their chances,” he said.

“Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown and Drew Petrie are leading the way for them up forward. They all like to lead up, meaning the likes of Hurley and Cale Hooker, who loves to take intercept marks and is arguably in All-Australian form again, will need to alter their games to become more accountable as pure one-on-one defenders.

“Todd Goldstein has also become one of the standout ruckmen in the game who's not only giving Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington first use, but is also finding the ball around the ground himself.”

But at three wins and three losses a piece, recent form will mean little when the ball is bounced.

“The X-factor in this game remains Essendon's response to yet more off-field turmoil after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced its appeal over the club's 2012 supplements program. That process could realistically mean the saga drags on for several more years.

“While (James) Hird has been stoic about that challenge and insisted his players are up for another fight, actions certainly speak louder than words. Will the Bombers be galvanised and stand-up against the Roos, or will the emotional rollercoaster they're back on finally begin to take its toll?”