Preview: North Melbourne v Fremantle

WHERE & WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 28 February, 5.10pm (AEDT)

MATCH ODDS:
Luxbet: Kangaroos $1.51, Dockers $2.55

FORM:

North Melbourne should roll into this match with a fair amount of confidence after downing 2009 premiers Geelong in the opening round of the NAB Cup. The Kangaroos were publically unmoved by the 14-point win, and while it was indeed the first game of the pre-season and the Cats were minus a handful of stars, there were plenty of positives for new coach Brad Scott in his first game at the helm. Most notably, the victory was powered by up-and-coming youngsters Liam Anthony, Matt Campbell, Sam Wright, Jack Ziebell, Ben Warren and Levi Greenwood. Fremantle was clinical in its 47-point demolition of Melbourne at Subiaco Oval last weekend. The Dockers were spearheaded by talisman Matthew Pavlich, who booted three goals, but they shared the load well in the forward line.

WALKING WOUNDED:

Dockers pair Adam McPhee, who transferred from Essendon last December via the pre-season draft, and Byron Schammer are both carrying ankle injuries and will miss this clash. For the home side, Drew Petrie (corked thigh) and Gavin Urquhart (cut eye) have both been named to start after picking up fresh injuries against Geelong.

WHO'S HOT: It is of course quite early on, but the signs are positive that North Melbourne ball-magnet Liam Anthony will not be suffering a case of the dreaded 'second-year blues' that have blighted so many talented draftees after they enjoyed breakout opening seasons. Last weekend Anthony gathered a game-high 38 touches against a Geelong engine-room powered by the likes of Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Cameron Ling. Anthony has stated publically that he expects a lot more attention this season, and it will be interesting to see if Fremantle coach Mark Harvey opts to use a tagger.

WE THINK: This match should be of a higher standard than most regular pre-season fixtures. North Melbourne boasts a squad stacked with youngsters that will be looking to impress Scott before the season proper, while Fremantle's rookie-contracted players will be desperate to snap up one of the several (at least two after Dean Solomon's retirement) senior spots available. The Dockers performed well last weekend, but the jury will still be out on the chronic underachievers until they repeat the showing away from home, and against a more fancied side than the Demons. If the Roos repeat the kind of intensity that was on display against Geelong last weekend, they will provide that acid test. Unfortunately for the visitors, it is hard to see them coping with the sort of hard-tackling and pressure that forced the likes of Ablett to turn the ball over. North Melbourne by 25 points.