Round 10
North Melbourne v Fremantle
Sunday, May 27
Optus Stadium
First bounce: 2.40pm (AWST), 4:40pm (AEST)

Storyline

North and Fremantle fans will be forced to wait until the final game of the round before seeing their sides in action, with the Roos and Dockers set to clash at 4.40pm AEST on Sunday in Perth.

The home side will be looking to bounce back following a disappointing trip to Sydney last weekend, in which it lost to the Swans by 59 points after kicking just two majors in the opening three terms.

For North, it will get its first look at the brand new Optus Stadium, and will play a second consecutive game outside of Victoria after an impressive 43-point win over Greater Western Sydney.

Ruck duel

For many years, the match-up between Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands and North’s Todd Goldstein has been a fascinating one, given both big men have been two of the elite ruckman in the competition.

Sandilands stands ten centimetres taller than Goldstein, which gives him a decisive advantage in contests around the ground. However, it is the latter’s athleticism and ball-use which makes him such a dangerous proposition.

This season alone, Sandilands is averaging 40.7 hitouts per match, compared to Goldstein’s 33.7. Around the ground though, the North ruckman is averaging 12.6 in comparison to his Fremantle counterpart’s 11.4.

Sunday’s clash will mean that little bit more for Goldstein, who is set to line up in game 200.

The fixture is fitting, given the quality duels these two ruckman have had over the years, and the way they have both shaped the modern style of ruck-work

This contest is set to be a fascinating subplot to what will be a fascinating match.

New territory for Roos

For the second time this home-and-away season, North will play on a ground it has never visited before.

This time, it is Optus Stadium in Perth.

Now the stadium Fremantle calls home, hasn’t been a happy stomping ground for visiting clubs this season, with only one non-Western Australian side tasting victory. 

The ground’s dimensions, 165 metres long by 130 metres wide, are similar to that of Etihad Stadium, a venue North has played very well at over the years.

Despite the near identical dimensions, each match held at the venue so far has hosted a near-capacity crowd, which paired with the LED screens, transforms the stadium into a hostile fortress for the home side.

Although North sits five positions higher on the ladder than its upcoming opponents, the venue is like to play a significant part in leveling the playing field.

North’s defence still stands tall

After being knocked off its perch as the best defensive side in the competition, North reclaimed its mantle last weekend after holding the Giants to 69 points.

Its average number of points conceded per game sits at 71, and this year alone, the Roos have conceded scores of just 30, 43, 55, 66, 69 and 70.

Fremantle on the other hand, has had trouble in front of goals, scoring an average of just 75 points a game. 

In Round 9, the Dockers' players didn’t bring their goal-kicking boots, kicking two goals and nine behinds in the first three quarters, boosting the team's average number of behinds per game to 10.4.

If the home team is to win, it must take advantage of its opportunities in front of goal, because the numbers show its opponents won’t be giving the Dockers many chances.

Fremantle’s team

B Michael Johnson, Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce
HB Connor Blakely, Nathan Wilson, Joel Hamling
C Stephen Hill, Nat Fyfe, Ed Langdon
HF Lachie Neale, Brennan Cox, Bailey Banfield
F Andrew Brayshaw, Cam McCarthy, Hayden Ballantyne
FOL Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Michael Walters
I/C Danyle Pearce, Shane Kersten, Tommy Sheridan, Ryan Nyhuis, Stefan Giro, Brandon Matera, Adam Cerra, Darcy Tucker
 
In: Stephen Hill, Danyle Pearce, Shane Kersten, Tommy Sheridan, Stefan Giro
Out: Mitchell Crowden (Omitted)
New: Stefan Giro

Burning questions

Who will Ben Jacobs follow?
It’s been one of the most hotly debated topics going into each North game this year, who will Ben Jacobs tag? The obvious candidate would be Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, however, Lachie Neale may be in his sights given his red-hot start to the year. As always though, we won’t know until the players line up at the opening bounce.

Will the rain stay away?
Thunderstorms are forecast to hit Perth on Thursday and Friday, while there is an 80 per cent chance for showers over the weekend. At the moment the forecast is looking dour, however, with the unpredictability of the weather, anything is possible. Either way, all 44 players will be giving it their all come Sunday.

Will Nat Fyfe play?
Concerns were raised earlier this week about the fitness of Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe, however coach Ross Lyon was quick to put the speculation rest, saying he is “super confident” the 26-year-old will feature.

The eight-day break will be an advantage for Fyfe, but until the final teams are announced on Sunday afternoon, we won’t know for sure.