Sitting at three wins and four losses, North will need a win to keep its finals aspirations on track. With up to 13 wins potentially required to finish in the top eight in 2012, a loss to Port Adelaide would mean the Kangaroos will require ten wins from the 14 rounds to sneak in.
1. Form
North Melbourne
Round 7: Lost to Western Bulldogs by 18 points; 12.11.83 to 15.11.101
Round 6: Lost to West Coast by 25 points; 15.5.95 to 17.18.120
Round 5: Defeated Gold Coast by 34 points; 17.25.127 to 13.15.93
Season: 3-4, 11th, 114.16%
The fallout from the loss to the Bulldogs has been far-reaching. Now two games behind seventh only a third of the way through the season, the next month of football becomes crucial. With three interstate trips in the next four matches, the travel bug must be cured immediately.
Port Adelaide
Round 7: Lost to Fremantle by 40 points; 7.5.47 to 12.15.87
Round 6: Lost to Richmond by 37 points; 8.6.54 to 13.13.91
Round 5: Lost to Adelaide by 19 points; 14.7.91 to 16.14.110
Season: 1-6, 15th, 76.24%
A promising start to 2012 has given way to frustrating losses for Port Adelaide. Seemingly never blown out of the water, the Power need to find enough in the tank to run out the full four quarters.
2. Last time they met
Round 14, 2011, AAMI Stadium
North Melbourne 5.0.30, 12.4.76, 18.8.116, 21.10.136
Port Adelaide 5.3.33, 9.4.58, 10.5.65, 14.7.91
Goals: Petrie (4), Harvey (3), Edwards (2), Greenwood (2), Pedersen (2), Adams (1), Anthony (1), Cunnington (1), Goldstein (1), Swallow (1), Thomas (1), Wells (1), Ziebell (1)
Brownlow Medal: 3 - Drew Petrie (NM), 2 - Todd Goldstein (NM), 1 - Levi Greenwood (NM)
This game is remembered for the solo-effort of Drew Petrie. Seemingly unable to miss a marking opportunity, Petrie racked up nine contested grabs while being double and sometimes triple-teamed during the game. Add to that his tally of four goals and it’s no wonder he picked up the three Brownlow votes.
3. Dream Team wrap
North Melbourne
Scott Thompson
Thompson's stellar run of form has started to translate to the Dream Team world. In the last four weeks he has posted three scores above 85 to drive his price over the $350,000 mark. With a relatively low break-even this week (40), his value is set to rise even further.
Port Adelaide
Brad Ebert
Ebert's first year at Port Adelaide after crossing from the West has seen him blossom into a premier Dream Team midfielder. Through seven rounds, Ebert has only one score below 92. Even more interestingly, he is still owned by less than 10 percent of the competition.
4. Waiting in the wings
North Melbourne
Ben Warren
In spectacular form for Werribee in the VFL, Warren has patiently been biding his time waiting for what would be a well-deserved recall to the senior side. With the performance of some medium-sized forwards slightly quieter in recent weeks, his time could be this week.
Port Adelaide
Jarrad Redden
After playing the first three games of the season, Redden was dropped back to the SANFL and hasn't played a senior game since. However, his form has been promising and dependent on the availability of Hamish McIntosh in the Kangaroos’ line-up, Redden will be right in line for a recall.
5. Key players
North Melbourne
Todd Goldstein
Without Hamish McIntosh in the side, Goldstein will return to AAMI Stadium to reprise the role he played so excellently in 2011. In the corresponding game last season, Goldstein amassed an incredible 53 hit-outs. His domination of the ruck was so severe that only a superhuman performance from Drew Petrie prevented the ruckman from picking up the top votes.
Port Adelaide
John Butcher
Given Port Adelaide's struggle to kick goals in recent weeks, it needs more from its key forwards. Butcher is one of those players. Despite not playing badly so far this season (10 goals from five matches), he will need to go up another level. If the Power are caught in a free-flowing contest, someone will need to kick a bag for the game to stay competitive.
6. Missing in action
North Melbourne
Scott McMahon
Still on the recovery trail from a nasty illness, McMahon's absence has been keenly felt in the North Melbourne back-line. His ability to marshall the defence prevents numerous opposition attacks and allows North to set up counters of its own.
Port Adelaide
Jay Schulz
After copping a poke in the eye in the Showdown against Adelaide, Schulz has not played a game as he continues his recovery. If he returns to the Power side this week, it will give coach Matthew Primus a two-pronged attack to work with as Schulz plays alongside Butcher.
7. The road ahead
North Melbourne
Round 9: Brisbane at Etihad Stadium
Round 10: Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium
Round 11: BYE
Round 12: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
Ahead of the bye, North face a tricky game against Brisbane, before travelling to Hawthorn's home away from home in Launceston. If the Kangaroos can defeat Port Adelaide and Brisbane before heading to Tasmania, they will be 5-4 and facing a Hawks side potentially full of confidence and on a winning streak of its own. Lose the next two games and things get even tougher.
Port Adelaide
Round 9: Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium
Round 10: Carlton at AAMI Stadium
Round 11: Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium
Round 12: Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium
Two games at home and a trip to the Gold Coast makes for what looks to be a slightly easier month for Port Adelaide. Of course the memories of its loss to the Suns last season will still sting and the Power will be looking for revenge. However, another upset loss at Metricon Stadium could throw their season into disarray.
