Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne - Etihad Stadium - Sunday
Western Bulldogs 4th - 11-6- 137.98%
North Melbourne 9th - 8-9 - 86.05%
The first glimpse of the Western Bulldogs post Jason Akermanis could not have been more positive. If you were looking for a re-affirmation that the boys from the kennel could still win the flag, you didn't have to wait long to get it.
North Melbourne on the other hand were faced with the opportunity to take a big stride towards a top eight berth last week and fell three points short in an eventful clash with Essendon.
It wasn't the Roos night it's fair to say!, Grima and Pratt late withdrawals, then a last minute injury to Daniel Wells throwing early planning into chaos.
Combine that with the near twenty minute delay in getting an answer from the AFL on the rules in regards to emergencies and it is not the ideal start to a game by any means.
However despite the loss of key players, and the unusual start, North Melbourne fought their way to a nine point lead half way through the last quarter and probably should have gone on to win the game.
The fact that they didn't could ultimately cost them a spot in the eight, but Sunday's game is a win they may not have bargained on, so to pinch one back this week will put them back in the mix.
However to do that, they will have to overcome a Bulldogs side that has regained it's mojo in the last three weeks.
Big wins over the Blues, Port Adelaide and Fremantle has put them into the top four for the first time in many weeks and once again premiership talk is on the agenda.
The run and spread, the goal kicking depth, the precise ball movement and most importantly the hunger is back for the Bulldogs.
With Mitch Hahn still to return, and more miles in the legs of Brad Johnson between now and the finals things are starting to roll at the right time of the year.
Last time these sides met, the Bulldogs dominated, and it was their ability to create space and destroy North Melbourne on the turnover that was the telling factor.
If the Kangaroos relinquish clearance control this week, like they did against the Bombers, the result will get ugly.
The Bulldogs average ten more stoppage first posessions then their opponents this year which is the best in the competition, and twice as much as the next best discrepancy.
The Kangaroos are conversely ranked 15th for first posession at stoppages and last time they played the Bulldogs, they conceeded 39 points directly from stoppages.
They will need to tighten up this week particularly in defensive fifty, last week the Bombers had 40 uncontested posessions in the forward fifty against North Melbourne, and a similar stat would be fatal.
For the Kangaroos, their midfield is more then capable, it's a case of consistent pressure on opposition stoppage players.
Swallow and Harvey were superb in the second half last week, and Cunningto, Bastinac, Adams, Greenwood and co are capable of making life difficult for the Bulldogs, despite their own midfield group being in outstanding form.
The roos do however have a tendency to change the way they play when facing the better sides. Yes, part of the reason for their poor showing against the competitions best teams is due to them not being quite up to it, but they also go into their shell a bit.
Players don't take the game on to the same extent when they face the top echelon of teams.
When playing positive pro-active football, the Roos look fantastic, but at times they are very hesitant. Slow patient build ups, almost afraid to make mistakes.
The problem with this approach is their skills won't hold up long enough against the best teams to play such a slow and steady style of footy.
North Melbourne are developing very well under Scott in his first season, and consistency will come, it's just a question of time.
However to take the scalp of a high quality in form side will do wonders for them.
Grima, Pratt, Thompson and McMahon will get the jobs on the in form Bulldogs forward line, and Thompson undoubtedly will get Hall.
McIntosh and Goldstein should just edge out Hudson and Roughead in the ruck, largely due to the inexperience of the younger Roughead, but the Bulldogs clearance players appear in too good a form.
As good as North have been at times, Boyd, Cross, Griffen, Cooney, Gilbee etc are far too strong at the moment to succumb in this clash.
If the Roos win, they probably play finals, if they lose, they are very much unlikely to get there, so it is a huge game, and the for the competition's sake, it wouldn't be the worst result by any means.
But the Bulldogs have just snared a top four position and won't be relinquishing that any time soon.
Bulldogs by 28 points
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