No matter the ladder position, anybody can beat anybody in the AFL, and that’s one of the beauties of the sport.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is well aware of this fact, and expects North Melbourne’s emerging group to continue its rapid improvement on Saturday night. 

“North Melbourne have been improving week in, week out. It’s not easy to go down to Geelong and be ultra-competitive, which they were last week,” Longmuir said.

“We handle it by preparing the same way we have all year, really process oriented [and] respectful of what the opposition can bring.”

With both sides having played Adelaide in the first few weeks of the season, there can be comparisons drawn between their performances.

Longmuir says he was impressed with the manner in which North played to see it leading for parts of the game against the Crows. 

“They were in front of Adelaide at three-quarter-time two weeks ago, and Adelaide were in front of us at three-quarter-time,” he said.

“We’ve got respect for what they’re trying to do, we understand they’re improving week in, week out, so we’re ready for them.”

The Dockers will have to do it without midfielder Adam Cerra though, sidelined with an ankle injury.

“At this stage I think (Mitch) Crowden will come into the side,” Longmuir said.

“He came on and did some midfield minutes in the second half. We thought that gave us a good mix. He’ll come into the side. We’re still working out our medical sub.”