Essendon v North Melbourne
Saturday, July 11 - 7.40pm
Metricon Stadium
North Melbourne will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when it takes on Essendon this Saturday.
North is coming off its worst loss of the season, after going down to the tune of 49-points last time out against the Dogs.
On the flip-side, Essendon will be full of confidence after defeating Collingwood last Friday night.
Both teams relocated to the Gold Coast early in the week, adding intrigue to an already exciting match-up.
Last time we met
Round 17, 2019
It was the Bombers who prevailed with a late Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti goal breaking North hearts.
Ben Brown’s sixth goal of the night edged the Roos into the lead, before McDonald-Tipingwuti stole the show at the death.
Brown was in brilliant form for the Roos, taking 12 marks and 18 disposals to go with his 6 majors.
Zach Merrett had 34 touches for the Bombers, with McDonald-Tipungwuti booting 4 goals.
The match-up
Robbie Tarrant v Shaun McKernan
After a fine start to the season, Tarrant was beaten by his opponent for the first time on Saturday, as the Dogs’ Josh Bruce booted 6 goals.
The North vice-captain will be looking to respond against the Bombers, and will likely match-up on Shaun McKernan.
In the absence of Jake Stringer, Joe Daniher, and James Stewart, McKernan is the Bombers only senior key-forward available, meaning the likes of Cale Hooker and Aaron Francis could swing forward.
McKernan has booted 5 goals from 3 games this year.
The key men
Jy Simpkin and Andrew McGrath
The number 12 and number 1 picks respectively from the 2016 Draft will go head-to-head in the midfield this weekend.
Simpkin is enjoying a career-best year, as he looks to make the jump from promising youngster to the game’s elite.
The Roos’ number 12 has had the 9th most disposals and 6th most clearances in the AFL this season, and will be critical to the Roos’ fortunes in the absence of Ben Cunnington.
McGrath has found himself playing more midfield minutes this year, averaging career-best numbers in disposals and clearances.
The stat
Ben Brown’s 25 goals against Essendon is more than he’s managed against any other team.
The teams
Essendon
B: M.Hurley, C.Hooker, M.Gleeson
HB: A.Saad, J.Ridley, C.McKenna
C: B.Ham, A.McGrath, K.Langford
HF: D.Parish, J.Laverde, O.Fantasia
F: A.McDonald-Tipungwuti, S.McKernan, J.Townsend
FOLL: A.Phillips, D.Smith, D.Shiel
I/C: D.Zaharakis, W.Snelling, Z.Merrett, M.Hibberd
EMG: T.Bellchambers, J.Begley, A.Francis, N.Cahill
IN: C.McKenna, Z.Merrett
OUT: M.Redman (omitted), J.Stringer (injured)
North Melbourne
B: J.Macmillan, R.Tarrant, S.Atley
HB: J.Pittard, J.Walker, K.Hayden
C: J.Polec, J.Simpkin, T.Dumont
HF: S.Higgins, C.Zurhaar, B.Scott
F: T.Thomas, B.Brown, C.Taylor
FOLL: T.Goldstein, L.McDonald, J.Anderson
I/C: P.Ahern, J.Mahony, T.Campbell, A.Hall
EMG: M.Williams, A.Bonar, B.McKay, T.XerriIN: B.Scott, P.Ahern, T.Campbell
OUT: M.Williams, T.Xerri (both omitted), B.Cunnington (injured)
