LAST TIME: North Melbourne 15.14 (104) d Richmond 13.13 (91), round 24, 2011 at Etihad Stadium
Hawthorn 15.13 (103) d North Melbourne 13.8 (86), round 20, 2011 at Aurora Stadium
Hawthorn 17.13 (115) d Richmond 6.16 (52), round 3, 2011 at the MCG
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THE FOUR POINTS
North Melbourne
1. Can ruckmen Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh work together in the sub rule era? The pairing guarantees the Kangaroos a strong contest at every ball-up and throw-in, but coach Brad Scott will be keen to see both chipping in with some goals while resting up forward as well.
2. Going by his sharpshooting performance during last week's intra-club hit-out in Ballarat, Lindsay Thomas is cured of the goalkicking yips that saw him boot 29.58 last season. Time to find out if the new set-shot routine holds up under the bright lights of Etihad Stadium.
3. North has a couple of candidates for role changes in 2012. Shaun Atley has played most of his short career in the midfield, but looks set to be trialled as a half-back. Lachie Hansen could also be settled in defence, after switching between both ends of the grounds last season.
4. Former Box Hill Hawks captain Sam Gibson had a corker of a game in the intra-club match. Mature-age sensations have been in fashion in recent years, and Gibson - a prolific ball-winning midfielder - could put himself in the frame for a senior start with further strong showings in the NAB Cup.
Richmond
1. Steven Morris, the 23-year-old recruit from West Adelaide, and Brandon Ellis, the Tigers' first draft pick in the 2011 NAB National Draft, are the main ones. Morris was overlooked in four drafts before his breakout season as a small defender in 2011. Intensity and endeavour are his hallmarks. Ellis possesses that combination prized by all recruiters: toughness and skill.
2. Tom Derickx, recruited from Claremont in the 2011 national draft as a ruckman, has spent most of the pre-season learning to play as a forward. At 202cm he's capable of playing in the ruck, but the Tigers seem happy to go with the Ivan Maric-Angus Graham combination for now. Brett Deledio is injured now, but later in the NAB Cup he's set to play in the midfield.
3. Apart from long-term injuries to Kelvin Moore (hip) and David Astbury (knee), the Tigers' only significant out at this stage is playmaker Deledio. The talented utility has a hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out of the first and second rounds of the NAB Cup. He looked fine while doing stationary ball-work drills at training on Tuesday.
4. Under third-year coach Damien Hardwick, the Tigers have put a lot of pre-season work into moving the ball from half-back to half-forward without turning over. Expect also a greater emphasis on multiple attacking options, as Hardwick is wary of the reliance of Jack Riewoldt at full-forward.
Hawthorn
1. Dual Coleman medallist Lance Franklin dominated in a midfield role in last Friday's intra-club practice match in Launceston. Is he set to spend less time in front of the big sticks this season?
2. New backline coach Luke Beveridge has introduced a fresh defensive approach: different starting positions, and a focus on getting to the ball first, rather than reacting to an opponent. Friday is his system's first test.
3. With a deep list and few injuries, competition for spots in the round one team to face Collingwood is tight. That should mean plenty of players attacking the NAB Cup at full speed.
4. Recruit Jack Gunston impressed Launceston-based Hawks fans with four goals in the intra-club. Victorian supporters are eagerly awaiting their first look at the former Crow in brown and gold.
