Where and when: AAMI Stadium, Sunday, June 14, 4.10pm (local)
Head to head: Adelaide 15 wins, North Melbourne 14 wins
Last time: Adelaide 15.17 (107) d North Melbourne 11.8 (74), round seven, 2008 at AAMI Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
Adelaide
Brett Burton (knee) - TBC
Simon Goodwin (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Trent Hentschel (knee) - 4-5 weeks
Tom Lee (knee) - 2 weeks
Will Young (ankle) - 1 week
North Melbourne
Luke Delaney (shoulder) - season
Brent Harvey (elbow) - 1-2 weeks
Ed Lower (knee) - 2 weeks
Conor Meredith (groin) - 1 week
Nathan O'Keefe (ankle) - test
Sam Power (concussion) - test
Jess Smith (hamstring/ankle) - 1-2weeks
Robbie Tarrant (shoulder) - season
Ben Warren (cheekbone) - 3-4 weeks
Daniel Wells (groin) - test
Sam Wright (knee) - 1-2 weeks
FORM
Adelaide: LLWWW
North Melbourne: WLWLL
SUMMARY
Coach Neil Craig spent all summer willing his new-look side to play on at all costs.
Now, the much-maligned game plan is falling into place.
Housemates David Mackay and Andy Otten have taken the next step in their football development and Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker, Chris Knights and Patrick Dangerfield have added some firepower inside 50.
North Melbourne fans have been treated to a mix of the old and the new this season.
The shinboner spirit, which saw the Roos’ gallantly battle out the game with 17 men against St Kilda last week, is alive and well and the introduction of Jack Ziebell, Ben Warren and Sam Wright has brought fresh optimism for the future.
Injuries to star players Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells have hurt coach Dean Laidley, but North will be up and about this week in stalwart Adam Simpson’s 300th game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)
The 201cm Queenslander has been threatening to tear a game apart and he did exactly that against the Bombers last weekend. Tippett booted seven goals from 11 disposals at Docklands. The basketball-convert also held onto nine grabs including a mark of the year contender. The solid form of Ivan Maric and Brad Moran in the ruck has allowed Tippett to play a more permanent role up forward and he could prove a difficult match-up for the Roos’ defence.
David Hale (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne’s own rucking forward is not in the same rich vein of form as his Queensland counterpart. Hale was a revelation in attack last season booting 37 goals including 21 in the last six games. Ben Warren and Sam Wright have emerged as forward options, but with the young pair out injured and Aaron Edwards in and out of the side, the Roos need a big game from last year’s leading goalkicker.
QUESTION MARKS
Where will North Melbourne’s goals come from? The Roos booted five goals in the opening term to gain an early break on the unbeaten Saints, but managed just four more for the game. Adelaide on the other hand kicked its highest score of the season (21.4) and boasted four, multiple goalkickers.
Can the Crows make it four wins in a row? The home side were under the pump after dropping three games straight earlier in the season, but now have a chance to right the ledger.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
North Melbourne has the heart, but perhaps lacks the polish to knock off Adelaide at home. The Crows have allowed opposition sides a look-in, in third quarters gone by but rectified that last week and should have the edge on Sunday.
PREDICTION
Adelaide by 24 points
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
Head to head: Adelaide 15 wins, North Melbourne 14 wins
Last time: Adelaide 15.17 (107) d North Melbourne 11.8 (74), round seven, 2008 at AAMI Stadium
MISSING IN ACTION
Adelaide
Brett Burton (knee) - TBC
Simon Goodwin (knee) - 1-2 weeks
Trent Hentschel (knee) - 4-5 weeks
Tom Lee (knee) - 2 weeks
Will Young (ankle) - 1 week
North Melbourne
Luke Delaney (shoulder) - season
Brent Harvey (elbow) - 1-2 weeks
Ed Lower (knee) - 2 weeks
Conor Meredith (groin) - 1 week
Nathan O'Keefe (ankle) - test
Sam Power (concussion) - test
Jess Smith (hamstring/ankle) - 1-2weeks
Robbie Tarrant (shoulder) - season
Ben Warren (cheekbone) - 3-4 weeks
Daniel Wells (groin) - test
Sam Wright (knee) - 1-2 weeks
FORM
Adelaide: LLWWW
North Melbourne: WLWLL
SUMMARY
Sunday’s twilight clash at AAMI Stadium could prove a defining one for both sides.
Adelaide, fresh from a stirring victory over Essendon, is aiming to sneak into the top eight over the break, while North Melbourne desperately needs a win to keep in touch with the logjam of teams on five or six wins.
The Crows have found the missing pages of their playbook over the past three weeks. Adelaide, fresh from a stirring victory over Essendon, is aiming to sneak into the top eight over the break, while North Melbourne desperately needs a win to keep in touch with the logjam of teams on five or six wins.
Coach Neil Craig spent all summer willing his new-look side to play on at all costs.
Now, the much-maligned game plan is falling into place.
Housemates David Mackay and Andy Otten have taken the next step in their football development and Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker, Chris Knights and Patrick Dangerfield have added some firepower inside 50.
North Melbourne fans have been treated to a mix of the old and the new this season.
The shinboner spirit, which saw the Roos’ gallantly battle out the game with 17 men against St Kilda last week, is alive and well and the introduction of Jack Ziebell, Ben Warren and Sam Wright has brought fresh optimism for the future.
Injuries to star players Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells have hurt coach Dean Laidley, but North will be up and about this week in stalwart Adam Simpson’s 300th game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Kurt Tippett (Adelaide)
The 201cm Queenslander has been threatening to tear a game apart and he did exactly that against the Bombers last weekend. Tippett booted seven goals from 11 disposals at Docklands. The basketball-convert also held onto nine grabs including a mark of the year contender. The solid form of Ivan Maric and Brad Moran in the ruck has allowed Tippett to play a more permanent role up forward and he could prove a difficult match-up for the Roos’ defence.
David Hale (North Melbourne)
North Melbourne’s own rucking forward is not in the same rich vein of form as his Queensland counterpart. Hale was a revelation in attack last season booting 37 goals including 21 in the last six games. Ben Warren and Sam Wright have emerged as forward options, but with the young pair out injured and Aaron Edwards in and out of the side, the Roos need a big game from last year’s leading goalkicker.
QUESTION MARKS
Where will North Melbourne’s goals come from? The Roos booted five goals in the opening term to gain an early break on the unbeaten Saints, but managed just four more for the game. Adelaide on the other hand kicked its highest score of the season (21.4) and boasted four, multiple goalkickers.
Can the Crows make it four wins in a row? The home side were under the pump after dropping three games straight earlier in the season, but now have a chance to right the ledger.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
North Melbourne has the heart, but perhaps lacks the polish to knock off Adelaide at home. The Crows have allowed opposition sides a look-in, in third quarters gone by but rectified that last week and should have the edge on Sunday.
PREDICTION
Adelaide by 24 points
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
