Trying to grow grass in a desert not working much goodly. May be a change of venue. Either way, bring sandshoes.
Alex Pearce
and Jy Simpkin
will be part of a significant moment in the game’s history on Saturday. Only once before have two First Nations players captained opposing AFL sides. The proud Indigenous men will, however, mark the first time that two anointed captains have led two opposing teams.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson is bracing his team for a fierce response from Nat Fyfe in Saturday’s AFL clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Fyfe starred as a permanent forward during the pre-season, but his round-one display in last week’s 15-point loss to St Kilda led to a wave of criticism.
The two-time Brownlow medallist looked lost at times on the way to gathering just nine disposals to go with his solitary behind.
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein
was overlooked in the season opener in favour of Tristan Xerri
.
But Xerri’s serious ankle injury means Goldstein will now be thrust back into the lead ruck role for the foreseeable future.
“It wasn’t like he (Goldstein) was in terrible form, we just decided to go in with one ruckman rather than two,” Clarkson said.
“We’re so fortunate with big X going out injured that we’ve got Goldy in the wings there that’s waiting to come in.”
We win this then we only have to win half the remaining games to make the finals.
Go Roos
Alex Pearce
PLAYERCARDSTART
25
Alex Pearce
- Age
- 29
- Ht
- 201cm
- Wt
- 98kg
- Pos.
- Def
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 10.6
- 3star
- K
- 5.2
- 2star
- HB
- 5.4
- 4star
- M
- 3.4
- 3star
- T
- 1.8
- 4star
- MG
- 106.3
- 2star
No current season stats available
- D
- 11.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.0
- 2star
- HB
- 6.0
- 4star
- M
- 4.4
- 4star
- T
- 0.8
- 3star
- MG
- 103.2
- 2star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
12
Jy Simpkin
- Age
- 26
- Ht
- 183cm
- Wt
- 77kg
- Pos.
- M/F
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 16.0
- 4star
- K
- 7.9
- 3star
- HB
- 8.1
- 5star
- M
- 2.4
- 3star
- T
- 3.3
- 5star
- CL
- 2.9
- 4star
- D
- 20.6
- 5star
- K
- 11.0
- 4star
- HB
- 9.6
- 5star
- M
- 2.0
- 2star
- T
- 3.5
- 4star
- CL
- 5.5
- 5star
- D
- 10.0
- 3star
- K
- 5.6
- 3star
- HB
- 4.4
- 4star
- M
- 2.8
- 3star
- T
- 2.4
- 4star
- CL
- 0.2
- 2star
PLAYERCARDEND
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson is bracing his team for a fierce response from Nat Fyfe in Saturday’s AFL clash with Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Fyfe starred as a permanent forward during the pre-season, but his round-one display in last week’s 15-point loss to St Kilda led to a wave of criticism.
The two-time Brownlow medallist looked lost at times on the way to gathering just nine disposals to go with his solitary behind.
North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein
PLAYERCARDSTART
17
Todd Goldstein
- Age
- 36
- Ht
- 201cm
- Wt
- 101kg
- Pos.
- Ruck
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 13.2
- 3star
- K
- 5.7
- 2star
- HB
- 7.5
- 5star
- CL
- 3.1
- 5star
- HO
- 32.5
- 5star
- D
- 16.7
- 4star
- K
- 9.3
- 4star
- HB
- 7.4
- 4star
- CL
- 7.0
- 5star
- HO
- 32.9
- 5star
- D
- 5.2
- 2star
- K
- 2.6
- 1star
- HB
- 2.6
- 3star
- HO
- 10.0
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
PLAYERCARDSTART
38
Tristan Xerri
- Age
- 25
- Ht
- 201cm
- Wt
- 99kg
- Pos.
- Ruck
Career
Season
Last 5
- D
- 5.5
- 1star
- K
- 3.0
- 1star
- HB
- 2.5
- 2star
- CL
- 1.0
- 3star
- HO
- 2.5
- 5star
- D
- 5.5
- 1star
- K
- 3.0
- 1star
- HB
- 2.5
- 2star
- CL
- 1.0
- 3star
- HO
- 2.5
- 5star
- D
- 5.5
- 2star
- K
- 3.0
- 1star
- HB
- 2.5
- 3star
- CL
- 1.0
- 3star
- HO
- 2.5
- 5star
PLAYERCARDEND
But Xerri’s serious ankle injury means Goldstein will now be thrust back into the lead ruck role for the foreseeable future.
“It wasn’t like he (Goldstein) was in terrible form, we just decided to go in with one ruckman rather than two,” Clarkson said.
“We’re so fortunate with big X going out injured that we’ve got Goldy in the wings there that’s waiting to come in.”
We win this then we only have to win half the remaining games to make the finals.
Go Roos