TonyK
CibbuanoRound seven preview: North Melbourne v Port Adelaide
May 8th 2009 16:30
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Saturday 9 May, 7.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 20, North Melbourne 14, Port Adelaide 6
LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 23.10 (148) def North Melbourne 10.12 (72), Round 22, 2008 at MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Port has won three of the past four clashes against North but none of those wins came at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North Melbourne has lost its past two matches to Richmond and Collingwood after recording a hard-fought win over Essendon in round four. The Kangaroos currently occupy 13th place on the ladder with a 2-4 win-loss record. Port bounced back from their disappointing loss to St Kilda with an impressive 26-point victory over Adelaide in the Showdown. The Power are sitting pretty in third spot with four wins from their first six matches.
MEDICAL ROOM: North welcomes back classy midfielder Daniel Wells and small forward Matt Campbell from injury but will be without defender Daniel Pratt who injured his knee in the loss to the Magpies. Kangaroos skipper Brent Harvey (dislocated elbow), (Liam Anthony (foot), Robbie Tarrant (knee), Lachlan Hansen (hamstring) and Jesse Smith (hamstring) are also unavailable. For the Power, classy midfielder Shaun Burgoyne and forward Justin Westhoff remain sidelined with knee and foot injuries respectively while promising youngster Hamish Hartlett will miss after injuring his hamstring in the win over the Crows.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Kane Cornes vs. Adam Simpson
Simpson tried hard all night against the Magpies, finishing the match with a game-high 34 possessions.
The former North Melbourne skipper has been his side’s most prolific ball-winner so far this season and is highly effective in close - he leads the Roos for clearances.
The Power will be keen to shut him down as North will struggle to get enough of the football into the forward line to kick a winning score without his influence at the stoppages.
Cornes is one of the best taggers in the competition and looms as the obvious candidate to be given the task of running with Simpson.
The 26-year-old, who racked up a game-high 37 touches in the win over the Crows last Saturday night, won’t give Simpson any time or space at the stoppages and also try and hurt him going the other way.
Josh Gibson vs. Daniel Motlop
Motlop returned to form in the win over the Crows, helping himself to 20 possessions, eight marks and three goals.
The 27-year-old will undoubtedly be keen to back it up with a good performance against his old side.
Gibson has been given some big defensive assignments so far this season and has been far from disgraced.
He has the ability to match Motlop in the air and at ground level and will most likely line-up on the dangerous Port Adelaide forward.
Gibson will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Motlop any time or space in which to work in as he is one of the few players in the competition that is able to turn a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Troy Chaplin vs. David Hale
Hale came of age in 2008, booting 37 goals for the season - 21 of which came in the last six games.
However, he has failed to carry his good form of last year into this season and was particularly disappointing in the loss to the Magpies with just 12 possessions and no goals.
In last weekend's win over Adelaide Chaplin kept Scott Stevens goalless and helped himself to 18 possessions and five marks.
Expect Chaplin to line-up on Hale in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
If Hale doesn't improve his output it's hard to see how the Roos will kick enough goals to secure the four premiership points.
In the loss to the Magpies the Kangaroos had just four fewer disposals than the Pies yet they finished the match with 12 less scoring shots.
They will need to be more direct with their use of the football against the Power if the likes of Hale are going to have any chance of having an impact on the contest.
Brady Rawlings vs. Danyle Pearce
Pearce has arguably had the best start to a season of his career, averaging 22 disposals per game and booting five goals.
The 2006 NAB Rising Star provides plenty of drive - he leads the Power for bounces and inside 50’s.
Shutting down his run and carry through the middle will be a key for the Kangaroos if they are going to be any hope of containing the Power’s multi-pronged attack.
Rawlings is North’s best midfield stopper and will most likely be given the job of tagging Pearce.
Pearce will be in for a tough night at the office as Rawlings, who has claimed some major scalps during his 187-game career, will make him earn every possession.
VERDICT: The Kangaroos are down on form and confidence and things won’t get any better for them on Saturday night. Port simply has too much pace through the middle and too many options up forward for North too contain and if they are switched on they should record a convincing win. Power by 47 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Shannon Watt, Scott Thompson, Josh Gibson
HB: Brady Rawlings, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito
C: Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell, Leigh Harding
HF: Scott McMahon, Aaron Edwards, Matt Campbell
F: Ben Warren, David Hale, Ben Ross
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Gavin Urquhart, Daniel Wells
I/C: Daniel Harris, Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas, Todd Goldstein
Emg: Ed Lower, Sam Power, Corey Jones
In: Wells, Campbell, Ross, Goldstein
Out: Pratt (knee), Greenwood, Power, Lower
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Alipate Carlile, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Troy Chaplin, Domenic Cassisi
C: Travis Boak, Chad Cornes, Steven Salopek
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Daniel Motlop
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Jason Davenport, Peter Burgoyne, Tom Logan, Matt Thomas
Emg: Nick Lower, Marlon Motlop, Matt Westhoff
In: Davenport
Out: Hamish Hartlett (hamstring)
New: Jason Davenport (Geelong)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 20, North Melbourne 14, Port Adelaide 6
LAST TIME: Port Adelaide 23.10 (148) def North Melbourne 10.12 (72), Round 22, 2008 at MCG
RECENT HISTORY: Port has won three of the past four clashes against North but none of those wins came at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North Melbourne has lost its past two matches to Richmond and Collingwood after recording a hard-fought win over Essendon in round four. The Kangaroos currently occupy 13th place on the ladder with a 2-4 win-loss record. Port bounced back from their disappointing loss to St Kilda with an impressive 26-point victory over Adelaide in the Showdown. The Power are sitting pretty in third spot with four wins from their first six matches.
MEDICAL ROOM: North welcomes back classy midfielder Daniel Wells and small forward Matt Campbell from injury but will be without defender Daniel Pratt who injured his knee in the loss to the Magpies. Kangaroos skipper Brent Harvey (dislocated elbow), (Liam Anthony (foot), Robbie Tarrant (knee), Lachlan Hansen (hamstring) and Jesse Smith (hamstring) are also unavailable. For the Power, classy midfielder Shaun Burgoyne and forward Justin Westhoff remain sidelined with knee and foot injuries respectively while promising youngster Hamish Hartlett will miss after injuring his hamstring in the win over the Crows.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Kane Cornes vs. Adam Simpson
Simpson tried hard all night against the Magpies, finishing the match with a game-high 34 possessions.
The former North Melbourne skipper has been his side’s most prolific ball-winner so far this season and is highly effective in close - he leads the Roos for clearances.
The Power will be keen to shut him down as North will struggle to get enough of the football into the forward line to kick a winning score without his influence at the stoppages.
Cornes is one of the best taggers in the competition and looms as the obvious candidate to be given the task of running with Simpson.
The 26-year-old, who racked up a game-high 37 touches in the win over the Crows last Saturday night, won’t give Simpson any time or space at the stoppages and also try and hurt him going the other way.
Josh Gibson vs. Daniel Motlop
Motlop returned to form in the win over the Crows, helping himself to 20 possessions, eight marks and three goals.
The 27-year-old will undoubtedly be keen to back it up with a good performance against his old side.
Gibson has been given some big defensive assignments so far this season and has been far from disgraced.
He has the ability to match Motlop in the air and at ground level and will most likely line-up on the dangerous Port Adelaide forward.
Gibson will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters and not give Motlop any time or space in which to work in as he is one of the few players in the competition that is able to turn a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Troy Chaplin vs. David Hale
Hale came of age in 2008, booting 37 goals for the season - 21 of which came in the last six games.
However, he has failed to carry his good form of last year into this season and was particularly disappointing in the loss to the Magpies with just 12 possessions and no goals.
In last weekend's win over Adelaide Chaplin kept Scott Stevens goalless and helped himself to 18 possessions and five marks.
Expect Chaplin to line-up on Hale in what shapes as being a crucial match-up in determining the outcome of this contest.
If Hale doesn't improve his output it's hard to see how the Roos will kick enough goals to secure the four premiership points.
In the loss to the Magpies the Kangaroos had just four fewer disposals than the Pies yet they finished the match with 12 less scoring shots.
They will need to be more direct with their use of the football against the Power if the likes of Hale are going to have any chance of having an impact on the contest.
Brady Rawlings vs. Danyle Pearce
Pearce has arguably had the best start to a season of his career, averaging 22 disposals per game and booting five goals.
The 2006 NAB Rising Star provides plenty of drive - he leads the Power for bounces and inside 50’s.
Shutting down his run and carry through the middle will be a key for the Kangaroos if they are going to be any hope of containing the Power’s multi-pronged attack.
Rawlings is North’s best midfield stopper and will most likely be given the job of tagging Pearce.
Pearce will be in for a tough night at the office as Rawlings, who has claimed some major scalps during his 187-game career, will make him earn every possession.
VERDICT: The Kangaroos are down on form and confidence and things won’t get any better for them on Saturday night. Port simply has too much pace through the middle and too many options up forward for North too contain and if they are switched on they should record a convincing win. Power by 47 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v PORT ADELAIDE
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Shannon Watt, Scott Thompson, Josh Gibson
HB: Brady Rawlings, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito
C: Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell, Leigh Harding
HF: Scott McMahon, Aaron Edwards, Matt Campbell
F: Ben Warren, David Hale, Ben Ross
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Gavin Urquhart, Daniel Wells
I/C: Daniel Harris, Andrew Swallow, Lindsay Thomas, Todd Goldstein
Emg: Ed Lower, Sam Power, Corey Jones
In: Wells, Campbell, Ross, Goldstein
Out: Pratt (knee), Greenwood, Power, Lower
PORT ADELAIDE
B: Michael Pettigrew, Alipate Carlile, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Troy Chaplin, Domenic Cassisi
C: Travis Boak, Chad Cornes, Steven Salopek
HF: Robert Gray, Warren Tredrea, David Rodan
F: Brett Ebert, Brendon Lade, Daniel Motlop
Foll: Dean Brogan, Kane Cornes, Danyle Pearce
I/C: Jason Davenport, Peter Burgoyne, Tom Logan, Matt Thomas
Emg: Nick Lower, Marlon Motlop, Matt Westhoff
In: Davenport
Out: Hamish Hartlett (hamstring)
New: Jason Davenport (Geelong)
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