Sunday evening is a rare timeslot, but North is scheduled in the space for the second week in a row against Richmond.

The side’s first home game for three weeks is against the Tigers at Etihad Stadium on the eve of the Queen’s Birthday public holiday.

Squads

North Melbourne

B: Luke McDonald, Scott Thompson, Lachlan Hansen
HB: Nick Dal Santo, Michael Firrito, Aaron Mullett
C: Sam Gibson, Andrew Swallow, Levi Greenwood
HF: Ryan Bastinac, Aaron Black, Leigh Adams
F: Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington
Int From: Brad McKenzie, Liam Anthony, Ben Jacobs, Shaun Atley, Sam Wright, Robbie Nahas, Majak Daw

In: Sam Wright, Ben Jacobs, Brad McKenzie

Richmond

B: Troy Chaplin, Jake Batchelor, Steven Morris
HB: Bachar Houli, Alex Rance, Matt Dea
C: Ben Lennon, Shane Edwards, Ricky Petterd
HF: Dustin Martin, Ben Griffiths, Brett Deledio
F: Matt Thomas, Jack Riewoldt, Ivan Maric
Fol: Shaun Hampson, Brandon Ellis, Trent Cotchin
Int From: Matt McDonough, Nathan Foley, Anthony Miles, Ty Vickery, Nick Vlastuin, Brad Helbig, Brett O’Hanlon

In: Jake Batchelor, Ricky Petterd, Anthony Miles, Ty Vickery, Nick Vlastuin, Brad Helbig, Brett O’Hanlon
Out: Dylan Grimes, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Jackson, Reece Conca

New: Anthony Miles

Consistent inconsistency

If there’s one thing North and Richmond can unite on, it’s been the inconsistency of their performances so far in 2014.

The Tigers dismantled the Giants by 113 points in Round 10, but came out the following week and were dispatched by Essendon to the tune of 50 points.

In many ways a Richmond win against North would only further the narrative, but for the Roos it’s a chance to begin a string of solid performances. A victory over the Tigers would make it back-to-back wins for only the second time in 2014.

Depth matters

After a charmed injury run in each of the past two seasons, 2014 has seen the injury bug arrive at Arden Street.

Quality performances from players who started the season just outside the best 22 have played a large role in the 6-4 start. With up to five of a best 25 possibly unavailable on Sunday, the depth will be on show again.

Over at Punt Road, coach Damien Hardwick has flagged changes after the heavy loss to the Bombers. If that eventuates, it will be a sneak peek to how the depth of the Tigers’ list fares in an important game for both sides.

Etihad milestone

This weekend North Melbourne plays its 150th game at Etihad Stadium. Of the first 149, the most memorable was undoubtedly against Richmond back in 2003 – the famous Jason McCartney game.

Round 12 will be the 11th time the two sides have met at the ground. North owns a 7-3 head-to-head record, having won the last two games.

It’s only Richmond’s second game at Etihad for the season, after it lost to the Western Bulldogs in their first encounter by two points. North has a 3-2 record in 2014, with the losses coming to Essendon and Gold Coast.

Tall timber

In this week’s Scouting Report, NMFC.com.au looked at the Richmond forward line and how the North defence can prepare for it.

However the other end of the ground  and North’s key-forwards remain just as important. In the corresponding encounter last year, Robbie Tarrant kicked four goals and Aaron Black three, tormenting the Tigers’ secondary key-defenders.

Throw in Drew Petrie’s remarkable seven goal haul against Alex Rance in 2012 and the key-forwards have had a habit of changing the flow of games against Richmond. Troy Chaplin and (likely) Jake Batchelor will be alongside Rance in Richmond’s defensive 50, making up the trio of tall defenders.

While the offensive downturn in North’s game has been well documented, the confidence Petrie, Black and Majak Daw can gain in previous history could be just the catalyst needed to kick a winning score.