North Melbourne will gain some valuable experience this week as deputy vice-captain Daniel Pratt returns to the line-up for the clash against Richmond. It's been a frustrating year for the 26 year-old, a knee injury in the Round 6 match against Collingwood kept him out of the side for four matches, while the rugged defender missed last week's match due to suspension.
"I let the side down by getting rubbed out and now I’ll have to dig deep and try and repay the boys this week," Pratt told kangaroos.com.au Pratt has been valuable to the Kangaroos in his nine matches for the year averaging 16 possessions a game, and could get the job on dangerous Richmond forward Mitch Morton who has booted 29 goals for the season. Midfielder Ben Ross has been included on North Melbourne's extended bench after just one week in the VFL.
"I let the side down by getting rubbed out and now I’ll have to dig deep and try and repay the boys this week," Pratt told kangaroos.com.au Pratt has been valuable to the Kangaroos in his nine matches for the year averaging 16 possessions a game, and could get the job on dangerous Richmond forward Mitch Morton who has booted 29 goals for the season. Midfielder Ben Ross has been included on North Melbourne's extended bench after just one week in the VFL.
Ross was Werribee's best last week picking up 32 possessions and clearing the ball from the centre on six occasions.Big man Todd Goldstein could also get another chance in the ruck after being recalled to the 25-man squad.Goldstein has been in and out of the side this year, and was a late omission against Hawthorn last week due to the wet conditions at Aurora Stadium.Power forward Aaron Edwards has been named in the squad after some solid matches for North Ballarat in the VFL.Edwards was in the best against Collingwood two weeks ago when he picked up 19 possessions, pulled down eight marks and kicked three goals, and once again worked hard despite trying conditions in the Roosters' loss last week.Gavin Urquhart is set to miss two weeks after sustaining a groin injury in North Melbourne's loss to the Hawks on Sunday.
North Melbourne Vs Richmond, Round 16
Sunday, July 19
MCG, 2.10pmB: Brady Rawlings (3) Scott Thompson (16) Nathan Grima (17)
HB: Scott McMahon (42) Josh Gibson (38) Michael Firrito (11)
C: Levi Greenwood (24) Liam Anthony (44) Drew Petrie (20)
HF: Leigh Harding (39) Lachie Hansen (6) Lindsay Thomas (12)
F: Brent Harvey (29) David Hale (31) Corey Jones (21)
R: Hamish McIntosh (1) Adam Simpson (7) Andrew Swallow (9)
INT (from): Daniel Harris (4) Sam Power (5) Leigh Adams (13) Ben Ross (15) Todd Goldstein (22) Aaron Edwards (27) Daniel Pratt (30)
* click on player name for link to profile
In: Ross, Goldstein, Edwards, Pratt
Out: Urquhart (injured)
Richmond
B: Jake King, Will Thursfield, Chris Newman
HB: Dean Polo, Luke McGuane, Matthew White
C: Trent Cotchin, Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio
HF: Robin Nahas, Jack Riewoldt, Jayden Post
F: Tyrone Vickery, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Angus Graham, Daniel Jackson, Richard Tambling
I/C (from): Adam Pattison, Alex Rance, Jordan McMahon, Jarrod Silvester, Tom Hislop, Mark Coughlan, Shane Edwards
In: Pattison, Coughlan, Silvester, McMahon
Out: Kelvin Moore (calf)
North Melbourne Football Club on Facebook
