North Melbourne’s next opponent will no doubt come out breathing fire after a disappointing Round 2 performance.

Melbourne was defeated by Essendon at the MCG, missing the chance to go 2-0 for the first time since 2005 – a feat ironically achieved by North only hours later.

In the wash-up, the Demons have come in for heavy criticism, particularly emerging forward Jesse Hogan.

But the Kangaroos will need no reminding of what the key-forward can do. In Hogan’s first meeting against North, last year, he kicked four goals and was arguably Melbourne’s best player.

Elsewhere, Melbourne’s young midfield continues to develop and grow. The fourth pick of the 2015 draft, Clayton Oliver, has already earned a Rising Star nomination.

Two more young new Demons have already made an impact. Ben Kennedy, recruited from Collingwood, has been one of his new side’s best players already with a total of 42 disposals and four goals.

The second, Tomas Bugg from GWS, will be well known to North and in particular Brent Harvey. The former Giant matched up on the veteran in a tagging role at Manuka Oval last season and was extremely successful for a half.

On the subject of tags, the likes of Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince could be candidates Ben Jacobs’ next tagging target, should the coaches opt to go that way. The Roos’ number 5 matched up on Jones last season, holding him to only 12 disposals.

The x-factor is how Melbourne will respond to the fact it hasn’t beaten North for almost 10 years. Its last victory in the matchup came all the way back in August 2006 at the MCG.

The only current Demon to play in the win was Nathan Jones, at just 18 years of age and in only his fourth match. The chance to end such a substantial streak could act as a powerful motivator, especially when coupled with disappointment from their last start.