WHO: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday, July 14, 4.35pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE
R3, 2015, Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) d North Melbourne 16.9 (105) at Etihad Stadium
R3, 2014, North Melbourne 14.13 (97) d Port Adelaide 13.12 (90) at Etihad Stadium
R6, 2013, North Melbourne 14.9 (93) d Port Adelaide 12.11 (83) at Blundstone Arena
R8, 2012, Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) d North Melbourne 14.9 (93) at AAMI Stadium
R14, 2011, North Melbourne 21.10 (136) d Port Adelaide 14.7 (91) at AAMI Stadium
SUMMARY (AFL.COM.AU)
The injury-ravaged Kangaroos' freefall down the ladder continued against West Coast and it's set the scene for a 'mini-final' against Port Adelaide.
North's top-four ambitions aren't shot yet, although a long injury list, daunting run home and troubles hitting the scoreboard have Roos fans looking anxiously at the chasing teams as much as lifting their eyes towards the double chance.
North has now lost five of its past six games, with some bad luck and bad kicking contributing factors, and the Power will believe they're a shot at an upset, despite losing three of their last four.
Although Port Adelaide was gallant in defeat to Hawthorn, that loss means its season is on the line against North. The Power have the midfield pace to worry the Roos, especially with Robbie Gray in red-hot form.
Returning midfielder Daniel Wells will be vital for North through the middle.
THE HEADLINES
ET: Key outs for Port
Port Adelaide midfielder Brad Ebert will miss Saturday’s clash against North, after suffering a bruised lung… MORE
Opposing Threat: Power
It was way back on April 18, 2015 that North last played against Port Adelaide… MORE
No time for nerves
Draftee Ryan Clarke believes his last-minute inclusion for North last Sunday helped ease his nerves… MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
B Scott D. Thompson, Michael Firrito, Shaun Atley
HB Nick Dal Santo, Robbie Tarrant, Jamie Macmillan
C Sam Gibson, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
HF Jed Anderson, Ben Brown, Brent Harvey
F Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite
Fol Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Daniel Wells
I/C Brad McKenzie, Ryan Clarke, Aaron Mullett, Corey Wagner
Emg Trent Dumont, Ed Vickers-Willis, Declan Mountford
In: Nick Dal Santo, Jarrad Waite, Daniel Wells
Out: Trent Dumont (Omitted), Mason Wood (Knee), Farren Ray (Hamstring)
Port Adelaide
B Darcy Byrne-Jones , Logan Austin , Jasper Pittard
HB Matthew Broadbent , Tom Clurey , Hamish Hartlett
C Karl Amon , Ollie Wines , Sam Gray
HF Jake Neade , Justin Westhoff , Chad Wingard
F Jarman Impey , Charlie Dixon , Jay Schulz
Fol Jackson Trengove , Travis Boak , Robbie Gray
I/C Kane Mitchell , Aaron Young , Paul Stewart , Brendon Ah Chee
Emg John Butcher , Jimmy Toumpas , Jesse Palmer
In: Sam Gray, Paul Stewart, Brendon Ah Chee
Out: Cam O'Shea (Omitted), Brad Ebert (Bruised Lung), Nathan Krakouer (Family Reasons)
Nick Dal Santo is back after missing with a virus last week.
THE COACH SAID - BRAD SCOTT
"It (injuries) makes things more difficult, no doubt. We're not going to shy away from that. But at the same time, it gives us great opportunity to have a look at other players."
THE OPPOSITION SAID - JUSTIN WESTHOFF
“They’ve (the Kangaroos) got some great players and they are in finals contention so it’s a must-win for them, but it’s the same for us so we will be ready to go.”
THE SIX STATS (AFL.com.au)
1. North has tumbled from top to eighth in the space of four weeks and lost five of its last six games. The Roos' dip in scoring has been alarming. From rounds one to nine they were scoring 104 points per game and has since dropped to 81 points.
2. The Roos and Power meet for the 31st time and North holds a lopsided 21-9 advantage, including winning five of the last eight.
3. Port's tackling is a feature of a fiercely competitive playing style. The Power have laid the second-most tackles, averaging 79.1 per game, while North is mid-table with 69.7.
4. Heavily in North's favour is its record against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, winning six games to two. The past two meetings at the venue have been decided by a combined 15 points.
5. The Power will be up against it in the ruck. They're ranked last for hit-outs and 12th for centre clearances, whereas North is third for hit-outs and fourth for centre clearances.
6. Robbie Gray has surged to a career-high No.2 ranking in the Schick Official Player Ratings. The Power star's 29-disposal, two-goal effort against Hawthorn lifted him above Scott Pendlebury and Nat Fyfe, with only Patrick Dangerfield left to reel in.
Robbie Gray has been in fine form this season.
THE BURNING QUESTIONS
Who does Mitchell go to?
Power midfielder Kane Mitchell has played a key role in the past fortnight with tagging jobs on both Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell.
With Brad Ebert out of the side, Mitchell could again be handed a big task against one of the Roos' dangerous on-ball brigade.
Ziebell, Cunnington and Swallow are sure to be among his potential targets, while Daniel Wells could cop some attention as he returns to the Roos' 22.
Can North stop Dixon?
North's defenders will still have nightmares of Charlie Dixon's seven-goal haul when he was a Sun last year.
The likes of Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson will no doubt be desparate to turn the tables, the former having had a career-best year with several scalps against the league's best key-forwards.
Will Waite bring the goals?
The goals have dried up for North in the past couple of months, with Brad Scott's men failing to break 84 points in their last four games, and having scored over 100 just twice in the last ten.
It's a far cry from the first five rounds, in which North averaged 122 points.
Jarrad Waite may be the man to provide the spark. The former Blue was in fine form in the first half of the season, and should be ready to fire after a long break.
Jarrad Waite last played in Round 12.
