Round 8 match preview: North Melbourne v Melbourne

Match details
Saturday, May 14, Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm (local time)

Teams

Media coverage
Television: Network Ten
Radio: 3AW 1200-1800, Triple M 1200-1800, 6PR 1200-1500, CROC 1200-1800

Form
Melbourne: D, L, W, W, Bye, L, W
North Melbourne: L, L, Bye, L, L, W, L

Ladder position
Melbourne: 7th
North Melbourne: 15^th

Head-to-head
Played: 151
Melbourne: 83 wins
North Melbourne: 67 wins
Drawn: 1

At this ground
Played: 4
Melbourne: 0 wins
North Melbourne: 4 wins
Drawn: 0

Coach v coach
Dean Bailey: 0
Brad Scott: 2

Last time they met
Round 22, 2010: North Melbourne 17.11.113 d Melbourne 15.13.103, MCG

Recent streak
Melbourne has lost its past nine in a row against North Melbourne.  

Milestones
-

Injury list
Melbourne: Sam Blease (concussion) - test, Jack Fitzpatrick (ankle) - TBC, Jack Grimes (foot) - indefinite, Mark Jamar (knee) - 4-6 weeks, Jared Rivers (ankle) - test, Tom Scully (knee) - 5 weeks, Jake Spencer (knee) - season

North Melbourne: Ryan Bastinac (knee) - indefinite, Matt Campbell (hamstring) - test, Lachlan Hansen (back) - test, Ayden Kennedy (knee) - season, Ed Lower (knee) - indefinite, Ben Mabon (back) - test, Hamish McIntosh (achilles) - indefinite, Marcus White (shoulder) - indefinite

Summary
Under immense external pressure entering last round, Melbourne hit back at its critics, smashing Adelaide Crows by 96 points - its best win under coach Dean Bailey. It was an outstanding result, after a poor showing against West Coast Eagles in round six. The win gave Melbourne its third win for the season, after victories over Brisbane Lions (round three) and Gold Coast Suns (round four). The Dees also gained two points from a draw against Sydney Swans in the opening round. Melbourne is now seventh on the ladder, having remained in the top eight for four consecutive weeks, contradicting the ‘crisis’ perception whipped up among certain sections of the football community. Despite the win, Melbourne has been dealt a blow with the loss of Jack Grimes (foot) for the rest of the season and Mark Jamar (knee) for four to six weeks. This round it comes up against North Melbourne, which has achieved just one win this season. But the Roos have been a bogey side for the Demons in recent years, making this contest a fascinating one.

Players to watch
Melbourne: Brent Moloney
The hard-at-it midfielder continued his outstanding 2011 with 31 disposals, including 21 contested last round. But the most remarkable statistic was his 19 clearances - the second best recorded in the AFL. He also had 10 inside 50s to be best-on-ground against Adelaide.

North Melbourne: Daniel Wells
The dashing midfielder has been in red hot form. Injury free, Wells has been providing spark for the Roos in an otherwise tough start to the season. Last round against Geelong Cats, Wells collected 28 disposals, had nine clearances and booted a goal.

Match-up to watch
Todd Goldstein v Stef Martin/Michael Newton/Lynden Dunn
With Mark Jamar injured and apprentice Jake Spencer (knee) now sidelined for the rest of the season, Melbourne faces a challenge against the impressive Todd Goldstein. Melbourne also has rucks Max Gawn and Robert Campbell on their books, but they have not been selected. Gawn is still emerging and premiership player Robert Campbell has played just a half of football in the Casey reserves after coming back from an achilles injury. This leaves the versatile Martin and pinch-hitters Newton and Dunn to combine in the ruck. But their ability to be flexible could also be a benefit. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Most disposals in 2011
Melbourne: Brent Moloney (161)
North Melbourne: Brady Rawlings (151)

Most marks in 2011
Melbourne: James Frawley (36)
North Melbourne: Scott McMahon (34)

Most tackles in 2011
Melbourne: Colin Sylvia (34)
North Melbourne: Andrew Swallow (34)

Most goals in 2011
Melbourne: Liam Jurrah (15)
North Melbourne: Drew Petrie (11)

How’s stat?
Melbourne has not defeated North Melbourne since round 20, 2006.

Memorable match
Elimination Final, 1987: Melbourne 22.26 (158) d North Melbourne 5.10 (40), MCG

In its first final in 23 years - and since the 1964 premiership -Melbourne took on North Melbourne. It proved to be a remarkable day, as the Demons smashed the Kangaroos by 118 points - still to this day an elimination final record. Melbourne great Robert Flower booted five goals, as Warren Dean, Ricky Jackson and David Williams kicked three each. The athletic Sean Wight also starred for the Dees.

Foot in both camps
Stan Alves, Ron Barassi, Paul Bryce, Phil Carman, Alastair Clarkson, Brent Crosswell, Daryl Cumming, Brian Dixon, Gerry Donnelly, Jack Harrison, Steven Icke, Alan Jarrott, Peter Keenan, Doug Koop, Johnny Lewis, Tony May, Tom McLean, Ernie O’Rourke, Byron Pickett, Martin Pike, Robert Pyman, Beres Reilly, Peter Schofield, Shaun Smith, Xavier Tanner, Dick Taylor, Tony Thiessen, Cliff Tyson, Brian Wilson, Rod Wright, Shane Zantuck.

What Colin Garland says …
“We haven't beaten North since I've been at the club. I think 2006 was the last time we beat them. They are a team that is pretty similar to us - a young team on the rise. And we know it is going to be a hard game. It always is when we're up against North because they give their all."

What @DemonsHQ is saying …

Key Melbourne question
Despite almost winning by three figures last round, can Melbourne end its five-year drought against North Melbourne without some key personnel?