
With both teams coming off losses to last year’s grand finalists, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide will look to bounce back as they go head to head at Etihad Stadium. Saturday afternoon will see eighth take on ninth in a game where a finals spot isn’t actually up for grabs with the Kangaroos three games clear of the Power, making this game far more important for the home side.
The Kangaroos simply cannot lose this game otherwise they’ll be looking at an Elimination Final away from home. Every game that involves top eight sides is crucial with the ladder closer than it’s ever been and North could potentially jump as high as fourth with a big win.
Etihad Stadium may seem like a strong advantage for North, but Port defeated them at the venue last year by eight points in the last encounter between the sides. However, the Roos have won five of their last eight games against the Power and have a good record against them overall. North Melbourne once again could potentially hold an advantage in the ruck with Todd Goldstein coming up against Jackson Trengove, who was beaten comprehensively by the Hawks last week.
Port Adelaide has been in better form of late with recent wins against Richmond, Collingwood and Melbourne, as well as a strong performance against the Western Bulldogs. Despite that, you have to wonder what they have left in the tank considering they are out of the finals race at this point in the season. The enclosed conditions of Etihad Stadium should suit the Power’s run and carry, but North at their best have shown a proficiency for shutting that down.
Unfortunately for the Kangaroos, they will not be at their best with injuries taking a serious toll. Mason Wood will miss for the Roos with a knee injury and the likely replacements in Majak Daw and Aaron Black are both also under injury clouds. Daniel Wells (calf) and Jarrad Waite (hip) will be vital to this side’s finals campaign, but it is still unclear whether or not they will return. Nick Dal Santo missed last week with illness, but is probably the only one of the group who seems certain to return. The Roos are a battered team and Port might be able to take advantage of that.
Port Adelaide will need to make a big decision on ruckman Matthew Lobbe who is returning from a serious knee injury. If he plays, he’ll go a long way toward bolstering the Power’s chances, but whether they risk throwing him straight back into the side will be the question. Speedy midfielder Matthew White (pectoral) is another who might potentially return from injury this week and that would also be handy given North have really struggled to curtail the influence of running wingmen in recent weeks. Vice-captain Brad Ebert suffered a bruised lung a few weeks ago and is probably still unavailable at this stage, but will be in the mix.
Bookmakers have North Melbourne as the clear favourite despite their injury woes and that’s probably to do with the three extra wins they’ve accumulated this year as well as the home ground advantage. You can’t rule Port out, because on their best day they can take it up to anyone as they did at this very ground against the Bulldogs a month ago. North will need to be at their best to hold them off and coming back from Perth might be that extra fatigue factor that shifts things in Port’s favour.