In coming up against a formidable GWS forward line on Saturday, North will have to be prepared to face a unit which can score heavily in multiple ways.
Jonathon Patton’s likely return from a hip injury means the Giants will be able to pair the big man alongside Jeremy Cameron, with Rory Lobb offering further tall support.
The first fortnight of the season has seen the Roos play three tall defenders, and it appears likely they’ll need to stick to this structure to match up well against Patton, Cameron and Lobb.
Each Giant presents their own unique challenge for key-defenders.
Lobb, at 207 centimetres, is just as comfortable spending time on a wing as he is inside the forward 50.
Patton, as he showed in Round 23 last season against North, is close to an immovable object when he’s set. Five goals earned him the three Brownlow votes on that evening.
Cameron, far and away the leading goal-kicker in his club’s history, is capable of the spectacular. Bags of four and six goals in the first two weeks of the year have the left-footer set to sail past the 50-goal mark for the third consecutive season.
It was Robbie Tarrant who had the role on Cameron late last season, and assuming he is again given the nod, it leaves the other two tall matchups in the air.
Lachlan Hansen has spent time on the resting ruckman in the early parts of the season. If that tactic holds on Saturday, it’ll likely mean he'll go to Lobb.
If Lobb continues to spend time up the ground before rolling forward, it also allows Hansen to drift back and play the role of an intercepting defender, arguably his best trait.
It then leaves whoever Thompson’s replacement is to play against Patton, the man who caused the Roos so much grief last season.
Once the matchups for the tall trio are set, there are three more Giants to worry about at ground level.
Toby Greene, Devon Smith and Steve Johnson have already combined for 16 goals this year, with Greene in particular looking like he’s found another level in his game.
The 23-year-old was at his brilliant best in the JLT Series clash against North in Canberra, with 26 disposals and five goals leaving him as clearly the best player on the park.
Marley Williams didn’t play that game for North. After his impressive performances against West Coast and Geelong, the former Pie seems likely to get the first nod to take the tough matchup.
Luke McDonald spent time on Smith in the 2016 clash, although the Roo was sighted on a wing for periods against the Cats last week.
In the early stages of 2017, Smith is finding more of the ball closer to goal compared to last season, when he did venture past the wing at times. If McDonald is to continue on a wing like he did against the Cats, it may mean he isn’t the ideal player to go head-to-head with Smith.
Johnson is the last man of the Giants’ forward six to look at for suitable matchups.
As Johnson has played closer to goal in the latter stages of his career, he’s been a thorn in North’s side.
His last three matches against North have resulted in eight goals - four of them in the Round 23 clash last season.
Jamie Macmillan has spent almost the entirety of the first fortnight in the defensive half, with only five of his 38 disposals coming on the other side of the centre circle.
If McDonald does go to Smith, it leaves Macmillan as the suitable matchup for Johnson.
However there is the option of switching the two, or also calling on other Roos to spend more time in the defensive half if required.
On what is currently forecast as a fine Saturday afternoon in Hobart, the forwards will be set to make the most of the Blundstone Arena conditions. It’ll be up to the North defenders to stop it.
