North Melbourne v Fremantle Preview

Posted on April 15, 2016June 7, 2018 | Posted by Digby Beacham

North Melbourne v Fremantle

Sunday, Etihad Stadium 2.40pm

From a Fremantle perspective, there is never a good time to lose Aaron Sandilands. Period. Perhaps summing up the Dockers’ plight in 2016, the first week he will miss of several following a second-quarter collision with Nic Naitanui just so happens to be when his side locks horns with North Melbourne and their All-Australian big man Todd Goldstein. The big Roo is one of the finest tap ruckmen in the competition and showed his goal-kicking prowess against Melbourne last weekend, booting five goals.

Should Goldstein dominate against Jon Griffin, the Kangaroos engine room will fancy its chances of winning the battle against a Dockers unit missing captain David Mundy (calf). Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale are extremely efficient in the contested-ball stakes, but the lack of support they have been afforded this season hasn’t helped Ross Lyon’s charges. Nor has the woeful field kicking and constant turnovers.

North will be well aware that Fremantle are battling some demons. Expect them to press up high in an attempt to force a swag of Dockers turnovers to give their dangerous forwards a fistful of opportunities. Whereas the Kangaroos have several key-marking targets forward of centre, Fremantle continue to rely heavily on Matthew Pavlich. Unless Fremantle take better care of the football and grasp their opportunities in front of goal, it’s hard to see them opening their account for 2016.

VERDICT: North Melbourne by 28 points

1st Goal Scorer: Hayden Ballantyne