WHO: North Melbourne v Adelaide
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday September 10, 7.40pm
EST
TV AND RADIO: Broadcast guide
TICKETS: Purchase tickets
THE LAST FIVE
R14, 2016, Adelaide 12.28 (100) d North Melbourne 10.7 (67) at Adelaide Oval
R1, 2016, North Melbourne 16.11 (107) d Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2015, Adelaide 21.14 (140) d North Melbourne 9.9 (63) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2014, North Melbourne 14.17 (101) d Adelaide 13.16 (94) at Blundstone Arena
R13, 2014, Adelaide 16.13 (109) d North Melbourne 10.13 (73) at Adelaide Oval
SUMMARY
While Adelaide will go in as favourites, North has proven in the past two seasons that the ladder means little come finals.
The Crows cost themselves a top four spot with a Round 23 loss, while the Roos have been defeated nine of their last 11 games.
After defeating North by 33 points in the teams' last clash at Adelaide Oval, the home side will be full of confidence, but Brad Scott's men have plenty to prove too.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR? (AFL.com.au)
Round one: North Melbourne 16.11 (107) d Adelaide 14.13 (97) at Etihad Stadium
North's round one hoodoo looked set to continue when the Crows led by 24 points early in the second half. But three third-quarter goals to evergreen Brent Harvey sparked the Kangaroos to a 10 goals to five second half and their first opening round victory since 2009.
Round 14: Adelaide 12.28 (100) d North Melbourne 10.7 (67) at Adelaide Oval
The Crows won their fifth straight game despite their most inaccurate kicking performance in almost 23 years. The Kangaroos led by four points at half-time before Adelaide ran away with the contest. Matt Crouch and Rory Sloane starred for the hosts against an undermanned Kangaroos side, coming off a six-day break.
Shaun Higgins missed the Round 14 clash between the sides.
THE HEADLINES
Roos ready to deliver
Sam Gibson says North has shown “glimpses” of its best form over the past four weeks… MORE
Perfect timing
“The best week on the track for a very long time” is how Luke McDonald describes North’s lead-up to the clash against Adelaide… MORE
A long time coming
Daniel Wells will be drawing on last year’s finals for motivation this weekend when North faces Adelaide in a do-or-die encounter… MORE
TEAMS
North Melbourne
Backs L.McDonald, M.Firrito, S.Atley
Half Backs J.Macmillan, R.Tarrant, N.Dal Santo
Centreline S.Gibson, B.Cunnington, S.Higgins
Half Forwards J.Ziebell, B.Brown, L.Hansen
Forwards B.Harvey, D.Petrie, L.Thomas
Followers T.Goldstein, D.Wells, A.Swallow
Interchange J.Anderson, T.Dumont, A.Mullett, M.Daw
Emergencies B.McKenzie, R.Clarke, C.Wagner
Adelaide
Backs J.Lever, K.Hartigan, L.Brown
Half Backs B.Smith, D.Talia, R.Laird
Centreline R.Atkins, R.Sloane, D.Mackay
Half Forwards T.Lynch, T.Walker, R.Douglas
Forwards E.Betts, J.Jenkins, C.Cameron
Followers S.Jacobs, S.Thompson, M.Crouch
Interchange B.Crouch, K.Cheney, J.Lyons, M.McGovern
Emergencies R.Knight, R.O’Brien, R.Henderson
In: B.Smith, R.Sloane
Out: R.Henderson, C.Ellis-Yolmen
Rory Sloane returns from suspension on Saturday night.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR (AFL.COM.AU)
Adelaide
1. If the Kangaroos close down the corridor as the Eagles did, the Crows will kick long to key forwards Josh Jenkins and Taylor Walker down the wings and back them in to take contested marks.
2. Rory Laird will be given a licence to attack from the half-back line to set up run and carry for the Crows going forward.
3. Expect to see Kyle Hartigan and Jenkins will help out Sam Jacobs as the third-man in ruck duels with star big man Todd Goldstein, who was dominant in the Kangaroos' round one victory.
North Melbourne
1. In the absence of main tagger Ben Jacobs, Trent Dumont or Sam Gibson could run with Rory Sloane if Brad Scott decides to tag the Crows star.
2. Sending Jack Ziebell and Ben Cunnington deep forward has been a ploy used sparingly by Scott, but both midfielders can take a mark and might be an avenue to goal if the Roos struggle to hit the scoreboard.
THE COACH SAID - BRAD SCOTT
"We've been in this exact position before.
"We've won finals from sixth and eighth position and we've won finals interstate, so there's a quiet level of comfort within our group that we can reproduce our best footy."
THE CAPTAIN SAID - ANDREW SWALLOW
“Having the week off has really worked in our favour.
“It’s been a difficult couple of weeks, but I think everyone had a good chance to just re-focus, get away, spend some time with family and the last couple of sessions have been as good as we’ve trained all year.”
Andrew Swallow's presence will be vital in the contest.
THE OPPOSITION SAID - DON PYKE
"Our game style is not built purely on our ball movement. It's built on our ability to win our share of the contests, whether that's aerial or on the ground.
"That's going to become more prevalent in finals because that's the nature of the games we play."
THE OPPOSITION SAID - TAYLOR WALKER
"We've earnt our right to be here, we've won 16 games, you just don't fall into finals.
"So I've got full belief and confidence that our footy will stand up in finals and I guarantee you I'll be running out with 21 hungry players."
THE BURNING QUESTIONS
Who will stand tall?
Brown, Petrie and Daw at one end. Walker, Lynch and Jenkins at the other. Both sides boast some key targets in attack, but who will get on top?
Ben Brown has kicked two goals in both outings this season against the Crows, while Drew Petrie has kicked two and one.
Majak Daw could provide some unpredictability in attack, having missed both games.
Jenkins kicked five goals in round one and just one last time around, while Walker booted two in each match.
It's perhaps Tom Lynch who looms as the wildcard and the man to shut down.
In Round 1, Luke McDonald did a fantastic job to keep him to 11 disposals, but in his absence in Round 14, Lynch got off the chain to register 27 touches and a goal.
Can North win the pressure battle?
North's pressure was a huge part of its early-season success, giving the opposition limited time on the ball and forcing turnovers.
In a 10-point win in the season-opener, the Roos laid 19 more tackles than the Crows. 13 rounds later, they registered three less tackles than their opposition, despite losing the diposal count by 60.
Shaun Higgins could play a key role, having registered nine tackles in Round 1, before missing the return clash through injury.
Who gets Betts?
North's Scott Thompson has had the huge job on Eddie Betts in recent clashes between the sides, but the key-defender won't be there on Saturday night.
Lachie Hansen and Michael Firrito could be in for roles on the Crows' power forwards, meaning the likes of Shaun Atley and McDonald will no doubt be considered for the job on the dangerous Betts.
Michael Firrito and Luke McDonald are set for key roles in defence.
