Patersons Stadium
Sunday September 9, 1.15pm WST/3.15pm EST
Finding a way to neutralise Dean Cox around the ground will be critical to North Melbourne's chances in the finals at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
Cox turned in arguably the best individual quarter of the season in the final term against North at Blundstone Arena in Round 15. He had a career-high in marks and was a wall in defence, but also went forward to kick the game winning goal.
A look back at Cox's last four games against the Kangaroos reveals similar dominance. Over his career he has averaged 16 possessions per game, yet against North it swells to more than 24 to go with 8 marks (up from 5.3). If that isn't impressive enough, he's also a threat when 'resting' forward.
While the emergence of Nic Naitanui has taken the load off Cox's shoulders to a certain extent, the All-Australian is still a barometer of sorts for the Eagles. It's no coincidence when Cox had his lowest possession total of the season of 9, Fremantle ran out comfortable 65-point winners in the most recent Derby.
In the absence of Hamish McIntosh, it'll be up to Todd Goldstein to combat Cox alone. Since beating Darren Jolly in Round 21, Goldstein's form has dipped. His hitout numbers have been comparable with 2011 for the most part, yet Goldstein is struggling to find enough of the ball after food poisoning in Round 22. It means the area which comes into focus is his around-the-ground work.
Last season Goldstein collected double figure disposals in all but one of his 21 games. In the last nine games of 2012, he has only reached the mark on two occasions.
Expecting to beat Cox outright in the ruck might be unrealistic, so hurting him with run and spread could be the way to gain an advantage.
The West Coast ruckman is used to drifting forward and getting on the scoreboard. His ability to take a strong contested mark separates him from his opponents and he is rarely forced to defend.
If Goldstein can potentially go forward and kick an early goal or two, all of a sudden the dynamic of the matchup shifts. Despite just two goals this season, getting on the scoreboard is in Goldstein's arsenal after kicking 13 goals last year.
This could create a domino effect. Cox might have to defend with Naitanui dragged into the ruck, leaving West Coast short one tall in its forward line. Or the Eagles defence gets stretched, having to cover four talls.
The counter to that is the North forward line could become too tall with Drew Petrie, Lachlan Hansen, Robbie Tarrant and Goldstein.
It's a risky game and Cox’s influence on the outcome can’t be underestimated.
