The stakes have been raised and North Melbourne has made the finals. With the added pressure comes more scrutiny and the media spotlight has been pointed at Arden Street.
The Roos take on arch rivals the Bombers in a contest many are finding hard to predict the outcome of.
Emma Quayle – The Age
“Neither side has proved very predictable at all this year, with inconsistently striking within games as often as it has week to week.”
Selection headaches will be felt with Brad Scott and the match committee having to make some big calls.
Emma Quayle – The Age
“The Roos will probably lose Lachie Hansen, again, to the hip injury he has been managing, while Nathan Grima required treatment for a corked quad during the club's Saturday night win over Melbourne and Nick Dal Santo got a bit of rest in by starting as the sub.
“The club will have some big selection decisions to make with Todd Goldstein, Lindsay Thomas, Levi Greenwood, Luke McDonald and Michael Firrito all keen to get their spots back sitting the final round out.”
Making an impact in the finals will be critical for North considering its poor run in September in recent times.
Jon Ralph – Herald Sun
“Three formerly proud Melbourne sides — Richmond, Essendon and North Melbourne — will try to correct recent finals records that can only be described as diabolical.
“North Melbourne, arguably the greatest side of the 1990s with two flags and seven straight preliminary finals, isn’t much better after three consecutive finals losses.”
2012 was the last time the club featured in the pointy end of the season and things didn’t go to plan.
Jon Ralph – Herald Sun
“They huffed and puffed with a late Richmond-esque charge to make finals in 2012 then lost by 96 points to West Coast, with a 35-point loss to Sydney in 2008.”
The North side is much different to the one that lost to the Eagles. Ben Brown has been a revelation up forward and youngster Kayne Turner continues to impress.
Mark Robinson – Herald Sun
“First raised eyebrows when coach Brad Scott mentioned Glenn Archer in the same sentence as Kayne Turner. In three games, he’s had more tackles (12) than handballs (11) and will be difficult to leave out of the final against Essendon. The possessions will eventually come, but at the moment he supplies attitude.
“Does North Melbourne need an 18-possession player who will play a role? Or an 18-year-old kid who will tackle a brick wall? Much prefer the latter. And did Archer ever kick four goals?”
