A winning combination
North Melbourne has opted to stick with the 22 that got the job done against the Bulldogs.
Jack Ziebell will be given every chance to prove his fitness after being named, although he’ll need to prove his shoulder is 100 per cent before the team-sheets go in on Sunday.
Liam Anthony and Ben Jacobs will be ready to go should he not come up, while Joel Tippett has also been named as an emergency to take on the third-placed Power.
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For ruckman Daniel Currie, it means another opportunity to prove himself at AFL level in his second game in the royal blue and white.
Currie and Todd Goldstein passed their first test with flying colours against All-Australian Will Minson last week.
“At the end of the game, I thought our rucks were on top. They were able to wear Minson down,” North coach Brad Scott said on Thursday.
“If they work together as a pair and they get the job done in the ruck and we get the ascendency there, I think it’s a viable option going forward.”
The North duo combined for 38 hit-outs, but it’s in attack Scott is hoping to see the biggest improvements.
“… they both have to be a threat forward. I thought Cuz (Currie) looked a threat forward. He didn’t take all his marks, but he’s only going to get better in that area.”
Port relies heavily on Matthew Lobbe as its number one ruckman, with Justin Westhoff and Jackson Trengove versatile backup options.
The Power have also named an unchanged lineup after their Showdown victory.
Backs A.Mullett 41 N.Grima 17 J.Macmillan 34
Half Backs S.Atley 18 S.Thompson 16 N.Dal Santo 15
Centreline S.Gibson 43 R.Bastinac 3 B.McKenzie 2
Half Forwards L.Thomas 12 A.Black 35 B.Cunnington 10
Forwards D.Currie 1 D.Petrie 20 L.Hansen 6
Followers T.Goldstein 22 D.Wells 8 B.Harvey 29
Interchange J.Ziebell 7 L.Adams 13 L.McDonald 21 L.Greenwood 24
Emergencies L.Anthony 4 B.Jacobs 5 J.Tippett 36