North Melbourne will have its first home game in Melbourne for more than a month this Sunday. It hosts Adelaide at Etihad Stadium in a crucial match for both teams.

Squads

North Melbourne

B: Aaron Mullett, Scott Thompson, Jamie Macmillan
HB: Daniel Wells, Nathan Grima, Michael Firrito
C: Sam Gibson, Shaun Atley, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Lindsay Thomas, Majak Daw, Leigh Adams
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int From: Lachlan Hansen, Jordie Gysberts, Sam Wright, Taylor Hine, Will Sierakowski, Aaron Black, Scott McMahon

Adelaide

B: Luke Brown, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Brent Reilly, Daniel Talia, Brodie Smith
C: Bernie Vince, Patrick Dangerfield, David Mackay
HF: Rory Sloane, Josh Jenkins, Jarryd Lyons
F: Sam Kerridge, Tom Lynch, Richard Douglas
Fol: Sam Jacobs, Scott Thompson, Nathan Van Berlo
Int From: Ian Callinan, Ricky Henderson, Rory Laird, Shaun McKernan, Jared Petrenko, Jason Porplyzia, Matthew Wright

Key matchup

Todd Goldstein v Sam Jacobs

Adelaide’s star ruckman had a slow start to the season, but made a return to his form of 2012 last week.  

Jacobs averaged almost 10 hit-outs to advantage per game last year, easily the best in the competition among the rucks.

Unfortunately for North and Goldstein, Jacobs was dominant against Ben McEvoy. He held the Saints’ ruckman to just 15 hit-outs and 8 disposals while collecting 23 and 20 respectively.

Much like Goldstein since the introduction of Majak Daw, Jacobs has flourished as Josh Jenkins and Shaun McKernan have been able to give him a rest.

In last year’s meeting the two had a tight battle, with North just winning the clearances.

Goldstein has been in fine form himself, so it looms as a key clash in the middle.

Indigenous Round

Indigenous Round celebrates Australia’s Indigenous culture and players that have shaped the AFL.

North has had 22 Indigenous players represent the club in its rich history.

During the week Phil and Jim Krakouer were at Aegis Park to address the playing list, sharing stories of their time in the league during the 1980’s.

The Krakouer brothers will be at the game on Sunday afternoon to lend their support to North.

Inside midfielders

The battle in and under will be worth the price of admission alone at Etihad. Adelaide possesses a quartet of quality clearance winners in Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Richard Douglas and Rory Sloane and they can all use the ball well if given space.

North, in Andrew Swallow, Ben Cunnington, Jack Ziebell and Daniel Wells has its own quality midfield to win first use of possession.

In the Kangaroos’ three wins this season they have had more possessions than their opponents, showing the importance of controlling the tempo.

Missing in action

North Melbourne

Taylor Garner (ankle) – test
Ben Speight (ankle) – test
Robbie Tarrant (leg) – 1-2 weeks
Kieran Harper (ankle) – 2-4 weeks
Daniel Currie (thumb) – 4 weeks
Tom Curran (foot) – season

Adelaide

Sam Shaw (hamstring) – 3-4 weeks
Lewis Johnston (knee) – 6-8 weeks
Taylor Walker (knee) – season

Travel factor

With last week’s match held at Patersons Stadium, North knows just how hard it is to win interstate in hostile conditions. Thankfully for the Kangaroos they’ll be on the positive side of the equation on Sunday.

Adelaide will be looking to turn the tables given their poor recent record at Etihad Stadium. Of its last 10 matches at the ground, it has won only one. However Crows’ coach Brenton Sanderson doesn’t believe it’ll be an issue.

"The report this week was one win from 10 [at the ground], in my history it's one out of two, so 50 per cent's a bit better than 10 per cent," he joked.

North has won its last three games against Adelaide at the venue.

Importance of the game

Currently sitting two games out of the top eight, North has a chance to make a charge in the last three weeks before the mid-season bye.

Following this week’s home game, the Kangaroos host St Kilda in what will be Brent Harvey’s 350th game and Daniel Wells’ 200th. Two successive wins will have North even on the win-loss ledger at 5-5 before heading to Metricon Stadium to face an improving Gold Coast outfit, which already boasts four wins.

Adelaide, currently on a two-game winning streak goes back to AAMI Stadium for two consecutive home games following Sunday. It could set itself up for a top-four berth if it takes care of business in the coming weeks.