For those who love stats and facts, NMFC.com.au is here to help.
Today we present the top 10 stats related to North Melbourne, Collingwood and Round 1.
10. This is the fourth time North will open its season at Etihad Stadium, taking one win from the previous three meetings. The win came against Carlton in 2004, with both losses at the hands of Essendon in 2008 and 2012.
It is also the fourth time Collingwood plays its first game at the venue. The Pies are two wins and one loss with none of the three games being closer than 34 points.
9. North has not won a Round 1 game under Brad Scott. The three losses have come against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, West Coast at Patersons Stadium and Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
While this may reflect negatively on the Kangaroos’ starts to seasons of late, the losses to the Eagles and Bombers were by a combined total of six points, and a fast-finishing effort against the Power fell just 14-points short.
8. Scott Thompson held Travis Cloke goalless in Round 21, 2012; the first time the Collingwood forward had to failed to hit the scoreboard against North Melbourne since Round 16, 2008.
While the coaching staff may look to Thompson to take the role on Cloke again on Sunday, they'll be spoilt for choice with Nathan Grima also in the back six. In last year's game, Grima was unavailable after straining his hamstring the week before against Essendon.
7. North's all-time win-loss record against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium is 4-7, with a highest winning margin of 30 points when the teams last met.
6. In North’s four wins against Collingwood at Etihad, its average score has been 102-points with a high of 114 and low of 91. The low was in the most recent win against the Magpies.
The variance in winning scores, along with North's improved defence in the second half of 2012 shows it can win games playing any style of football.
5. Sel Murray kicked 50 goals in his career playing against Collingwood, the most of any North player. Brent Harvey leads amongst current players with 22.
Murray's 411 goals in 108 games at of 3.8 goals per game is the highest goal-per-game average by any North player in the club's history.
4. Lindsay Thomas averages almost four scoring shots a game in his six Round 1 games.
While he kicked five behinds on debut, Thomas has been reliable in front of goal since with 13.5 to his name.
3. Ben Cunnington's career-high of 11 tackles came against Collingwood in Round 21, 2012.
This high may not last for long. Cunnington's three games with double-figure tackles all came last season.
2. The last time North played Collingwood in a season opener was 2007. It was the debut of Thomas and Lachlan Hansen. Of the 22 who played that day, only seven remain on the Kangaroos’ senior list.
Michael Firrito (11 disposals), Brent Harvey (23 disposals, 3 goals), Drew Petrie (11 disposals, 4 marks), Andrew Swallow (10 disposals) and Daniel Wells (12 disposals) played alongside Thomas and Hansen in the match.
1. Scott had a 9-2 record against Nathan Buckley as a player, and will look to continue his perfect record as coach on Sunday.
