The definitive preview

As kangaroos.com.au continues its countdown to the opening bounce of round nine, we take an in-depth look at how North Melbourne and Brisbane match up.

Match details


When and where?	Win-loss history	Broadcast times	Upcoming matches
Brisbane v North GABBA Saturday May 21 7.40pm	Played: 23 NM wins: 10 Bris Lions wins: 12 Draws: 1	Click here to view television times Click here to view radio times	North Melbourne v Sydney Swans Brisbane Lions v Adelaide Crows

Recent Form


Brisbane		North Melbourne
Last week: Lost by 36 points v Essendon		Last week: Won by 41 points v Melbourne

The Lions have played some good football in 2011 but sadly, they have nothing to show for it. It was a tight tussle against Essendon on Saturday night and they led by a point at the main break. However James Hird’s men came out firing and kept Brisbane goal-less in the third term while kicking four themselves. There was no coming back for the home-side and the went down by 36-points and remain on the bottom of the ladder.		The Kangaroos secured only their second win of the season after a slow start against Melbourne. Trailing by four goals at quarter time and down by as many as 31-points, they were in desperate need of a spark and luckily Daniel Wells and Aaron Edwards were there to provide it. North was able to turn the game on its head and dominate the remaining three quarters. A 41-point win meant the side had managed a remarkable 72-point turn around.

Who's hot?


Tom Rockliff	Aaron Edwards
Taken with pick number five in the 2008 Pre-season Draft, Rockliff is having a career best season. His average of 27 disposals a game so far this year has him ranked 13th in league and he is leading the way for the Lions during dark times. The 21-year old had 30 touches, eight marks and a goal last week and could cause plenty of trouble for North Melbourne unless his work in the midfield is negated.	16 goals in just two weeks of football has Aaron Edwards in the midst of a rare purple patch. 10 came via the VFL and the other six were kicked in the AFL during the match against the Demons at Etihad Stadium. While his goal-kicking form has been impressive, the coaches at Aegis Park are more impressed with the number 27’s defensive pressure. Edwards laid five tackles in the win over Melbourne to go along with 16 possessions and 10 marks.

Missing in action?


Key injuries James Polkinghorne (concussion) - test Andrew Raines (concussion) - test Jonathan Brown (face) - test Xavier Clarke (hamstring) - 1 week Brent Staker (knee) - 7 weeks Callum Bartlett (knee) - indefinite Jamie Charman (achilles) - indefinite Ryan Lester (foot) - indefinite		Key injuries Ryan Bastinac (knee) – 2-4 weeks Ayden Kennedy (knee) – season Ed Lower (knee) – indefinite  Hamish McIntosh (achilles) – 4-6 weeks Matt Campbell (hamstring) – test Ben Cunnington (virus) - test Cameron Richardson (virus) - test Nathan Grima (finger) - 2-4 weeks

Where it could be won...


The midfield		Up forward
The Lions have one of the most talented midfields in the competition with the likes of Luke Power (31 years old) and Simon Black (32 years old) still playing good footy despite nearing the ends of their illustrious careers. Throw Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden into the mix and Brisbane can go toe-to-toe with the best. When Daniel Wells and Brent Harvey are out of the midfield rotation, the Lions should look to pounce and take advantage of a younger and less experienced line-up.		North Melbourne’s midfielders have provided plenty of supply in 2011 with the club recording record numbers of inside 50’s. With Aaron Edwards up and about, Drew Petrie finding his touch, Lindsay Thomas looking ever-potent and Lachlan Hansen hitting up at every opportunity, North’s front line could run riot. Daniel Merrett, who had 19 spoils against Essendon is likely to take Petrie, but will Brisbane’s other defenders provide enough support?

Future stars?


Todd Banfield	Kieran Harper
Drafted in 2008, Banfield is a lively forward who shows plenty of promise. While able to kick much needed goals, the 20-year old is also great at applying defensive pressure. He averages just under five tackles a game and notched up nine against St Kilda earlier in the year.	He’s only played three matches and averages 10 disposals but Harper is all class. Improving with every outing, the 18-year old skill efficiency and decision making it what excites the North Melbourne faithful. Harper possesses an uncanny ability to find the goals and has kicked a major in each match he’s played.

Who will kick the goals?


Ashley McGrath	Lachlan Hansen
When the game was in the balance against the Gold Coast, Michael Voss threw McGrath forward with great success. A career high six goal haul reinvented the 27-year old as a forward and he went on to kick another two against the Bombers. The Kangaroos have struggled to contain the small forwards in 2011 and McGrath could be the one to get off the leash.	With Daniel Merrett almost guaranteed to go to Drew Petrie, Hansen may have the best opportunity to impact the scoreboard. After a successful return from a back injury last week, Hansen took a few strong marks and converted to help his side over the line against Melbourne. With a big tank and great hands, the number six might be a focal point for North’s midfielders when the bring the ball inside the 50 metre arc.

Ready to return?


Jonathan Brown	Liam Anthony
A sickening facial injury has kept the Lions’ captain out since round 1 but this week, Brown has declared himself a certain started for the match against the Roos. Only medical staff could prevent him from crossing the white line on Saturday night and that looks unlikely.	Banished to the VFL after a poor game against Geelong, Liam Anthony was played at half-back for the North Ballarat Roosters and responded in the best possible way. He racked up 29 touches, five tackles and also finished with a goal.

Dream Team locks


Simon Black		Drew Petrie
A quiet fortnight has seen the 32 year-old's value drop slightly to below $350,000. Not many players can average above 85 in their career though without being ultra-consistent, so expect Black to return to his best with a bang. Black hasn't broken the ton against North since back in round ten of 2008, but expect a big score if he isn't given the respect he deserves. Round eight score: 76 Price: $349,100		At a touch under $300,000, Petrie looks a strong option as a forward or second ruck. His effort of 91 against one of the premier defences in the competition in Geelong was magnificent, and after a quieter game against Melbourne he'll be raring to go. Over 25% of Dream Teamer's already have the big man in their side, so be wary of your upcoming opponents' selections. Round seven score: 60 Price: $297,200

Last time they met

When the Roos and Lions last met in round 11 last year, it was a thriller at Etihad Stadium. The Kangaroos got up by a point after Levi Greenwood marked the ball in the pocket on a tough angle with less than two-minutes remaining on the clock. The kick somehow wobbled through and North held on for a breathtaking win.

Controversy followed the final siren with Simon Black wrongly called for a throw in the dying seconds by the field umpire Matthew Nicholls just as the Lions launched one final assault. Black accepted a fine for abusing Nicholls and the following week.

Travis Johnstone had 37 touches and Brendan Fevola kicked five goals for Brisbane while Brent Harvey collected 30 possessions for the Roos.

North Melbourne 7.5 10.10 11.15 12.18 (90)
Brisbane Lions 2.1 5.4 10.8 13.11 (89)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Swallow 2, Thomas 2, Hansen 2, Harvey, Lower, McIntosh, Wright, Cunnington, Greenwood
Brisbane Lions: Fevola 5, Brown 3, Buchanan 2, Brennan, Rich, Clark

BEST
North Melbourne: Swallow, Harvey, Hansen, Lower, Ziebell, Bastinac
Brisbane Lions: Johnstone, Brown, Power, Fevola, Rischitelli, Rockliff, Sherman

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Brisbane Lions: McGrath (hamstring), Power

Official crowd: 19,100 at Etihad Stadium

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