North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions
North Melbourne V Brisbane Lions
Etihad Stadium – 27th May 2012 – 1:10PM
North Melbourne will be seeking redemption for recent efforts this weekend as they take on Brisbane at Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
After giving up a 34-point lead to Port Adelaide last Saturday, North Melbourne enters this game down on form with only Melbourne sparing them from a media caning this week.
Brisbane in contrast come off a convincing 92 point victory against GWS last week. Fullback Daniel Merrett starred with 7 goals to add an extra touch of class up forward for the Lions.
The confidence gained from last weeks victory will surely transfer in to this weeks performance, as the Lions most certainly can smell the blood of their Kangaroo foe.
In previous clashes the ledger has been relatively even, with neither team win three consecutive games against each other since the mighty Brisbane side of 2001-2004.
North Melbourne will welcome back sharpshooter Aaron Edwards in to the fold this week, which they will hope adds some much needed maturity to this young side.
Brisbane on the other hand have named the young Elliot Yeo to make his debut this weekend, who replaces fellow young star Jared Polec who has been omitted this week.
North Melbourne will look to continue to use their run and handball game plan that has seen the club resemble that of a bipolar patient, delivering some manic highs like that against Geelong and depressing lows such as the events of last week.
Ultimately, Etihad Stadium is the ideal arena to implement such a game plan especially up against a rebuilding Brisbane side.
Key Matchups
Drew Petrie v Daniel Merrett
After the heroics of last week, expect Merrett to play at the opposite end of the ground to curtail the influence of North’s power forward Drew Petrie. The Lions will have to rely on their champion forward Jonathon Brown in order to kick a winning score, as Brisbane are short on defenders who can handle the physicality of Petrie.
Brent Harvey v Andrew Raines
After rather fortunately getting away with merely a reprimand for a rather crude effort last week, it is on veteran Brent Harvey to lift this week in order to rectify the slump he has found himself fin as of late. Andrew Raines will likely be given the job on either Harvey or Wells, though I believe will Harvey will be his likely destination. Harvey has a front running streak about him which generally corresponds with his teams performance, so Raines will be charged with keeping a leash on Harvey.
Predicition:
In the end, I believe North will rebound against a Brisbane team flying in from interstate however I would not be surprised to see Brisbane inflict yet another loss on the desperate North Melbourne.
North Melbourne simply must win this game.
North by 27 points
North Melbourne
B: Levi Greenwood, Scott Thompson, Luke Delaney
HB: Shaun Atley, Michael Firrito, Nathan Grima
C: Daniel Wells, Andrew Swallow, Jamie Macmillan
HF: Ryan Bastinac, Aaron Edwards, Leigh Adams
F: Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Kieran Harper
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Jack Ziebell, Brent Harvey
I/C: Lindsay Thomas, Samuel Wright, Aaron Black, Cameron Delaney
Emg: Ben Warren, Cruize Garlett, Cameron Pedersen
In: Aaron Edwards, Samuel Wright, Aaron Black
Out: Ben Warren, Cameron Pedersen, Brad McKenzie
Brisbane Lions
B: Ashley McGrath, Matt Maguire, Josh Drummond
HB: Jed Adcock, Joel Patfull, Mitchell Golby
C: Pearce Hanley, Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich
HF: Rohan Bewick, Jonathan Brown, Jack Redden
F: Joshua Green, Daniel Merrett, James Polkinghorne
Foll: Billy Longer, Simon Black, Andrew Raines
I/C: Aaron Cornelius, Ryan Lester, Dayne Zorko, Elliot Yeo
Emg: James Hawksley, Jared Polec, Patrick Karnezis
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