Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy has applauded opposing players' calls for fans not to boo Adam Goodes.

Goodes has been sporadically booed by opposition fans over the past two seasons, but the jeering has intensified in recent weeks.

Ahead of North Melbourne's clash with the Swans at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Kangaroos midfielder Jack Ziebell said he hoped his club's fans wouldn't boo the dual Brownlow medallist and former Australian of the Year.

"I think it is great from Ziebell that he has come out and said it and I think (Hawthorn's) Jordan Lewis did it a week or two ago, which is great," Kennedy said on Thursday.

"From our point of view, we can't really control it. We have just got to support 'Goodesy' on the field and get around him as much as we can."

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North Melbourne interim coach Darren Crocker also hoped Kangaroos fans would be respectful of Goodes during Saturday’s clash.

“Adam Goodes, as Jack (Ziebell) said, is a champion of the game. I’m not sure what’s going on with the general public at the moment, but we’re really confident that we’ve got terrific supporters,” Crocker said on Thursday.

“(They are) loyal supporters to us at North Melbourne, but also loyal supporters to the game and can recognise true champions when they run around.

"I would be astounded if the North Melbourne people didn’t pay Adam Goodes the respect he deserves."

Kennedy said he expected the midfield battle to be vital on Saturday night.

"We look at their (the Kangaroos) midfield and know they have a lot of very good players that can go through there but we think we match up pretty well.

"The way that they played last week, their intensity around the contest, their tackling pressure was ferocious and it was across the course of the four quarters.”

"We back our guys that are going to rotate through the midfield and think it is going to be a good battle, one that often can determine the outcome of the game."