North Melbourne are ready and waiting to double their win tally for 2024 against a Bulldogs line-up that welcomes back two massive inclusions in their front half.
The Kangaroos (1-13, 63.4%) have looked better than their record suggests — only losing to Melbourne by three points last week after their away win against West Coast in Round 13.
The opposing Bulldogs (7-7, 119.7%) could finish the round in as high as seventh if results go their way the rest of the weekend.
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The game gets underway at 1:45pm from Marvel Stadium.
Watch it live on Fox Sports 503, streaming on Kayo and via Hubbl from 1:30pm.
The Dogs will welcome back Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy up forward in a big boost for their confidence, with Oskar Baker also included for his first AFL game since Round 8.
They have replaced All-Australian Caleb Daniel, Buku Khamis and Anthony Scott – all of which have been omitted.
As for the Kangaroos, they have made just one change with George Wardlaw (concussion) out for Kallan Dawson.
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There are no late changes at Marvel Stadium, with Dylan Stephens (Kangaroos) and Oskar Baker (Bulldogs) the named subs.
In an unprecedented move from Luke Beveridge, Rory Lobb was switched to defence as a result of Naughton, Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan taking the reins in an already-tall foward line.
Straight back from injury, it took Aaron Naughton less than two minutes to hit the scoreboard with a snapping major close to home.
Ugle-Hagan joined the party not long after with a brilliant fend-off on Roos defender Luke McDonald before snapping on his favoured left boot.
Speaking on Lobb’s sudden move to defence, AFL Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall believed the move should be looked at as glass half-full by the 207cm giant.
“It’s a great chance for him to reinvent himself here, he’s got to read the writing on the wall with the three bigs up forward,” Dunstall said early in the first quarter.
After a temporary tug-of-war, North Melbourne kicked two quick goals to bring a 14-point margin down to two in the blink of an eye.
Cam Zurhaar kicked a goal on the move for the Kangaroos’ first, before Paul Curtis lit Marvel Stadium up with an incredible threading of the needle in the left forward pocket.
“They are right back in this contest the Kangaroos, they’ve weathered the early storm,” Dunstall said.
“He’s started like a house on fire this afternoon,” two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King said on Curtis’ first quarter.
Naughton snapped his second goal for the quarter, before being swiftly answered by Harry Sheezel – kicking his seventh goal in five games since moving forward of the ball.
In a small blow to North heading into quarter time though, young defender Jackson Archer conceded a late free kick off the ball inside the Bulldogs’ 50, in favour of Cody Weightman.
‘Flea’ converted his set shot from 25 metres out directly and front, and gave the Bulldogs a nine-point lead at the first break.
The scorecard read: North Melbourne 3.1 (19) to Western Bulldogs 4.4 (28).
Despite reports of back spasms during the week, superstar Marcus Bontempelli led the possession count across both teams with 10 touches and a whopping six clearances at quarter time.
As David King highlighted earlier, Curtis was electric for North, finishing the term with six disposals, three tackles and a goal.
It was a very slow start to the second quarter, with the first goal not coming until the 18th minute, courtesy of Sam Darcy.
Bontempelli has been wayward in front of goal, having kicked three behinds for no goals in the first quarter and a half.
The Kangaroos were eventually kept scoreless in the second quarter in what was a very sluggish term of football.
The scorecard read: North Melbourne 3.1 (19) trailing Western Bulldogs 5.8 (38).
Incredibly, Bontempelli has so far avoided a Will Phillips tag, helping himself to 19 disposals by half time.
“He’s been extraordinary, absolutely dominant – no one (is) really taking that responsibility (for Bontemeplli),” said Dunstall at half-time.
Unfortunately for teammate Adam Treloar, Phillips kept him to just 10 disposals for zero marks or tackles.
Ugle-Hagan kicked his second of the match to start the second half for both sides, and pushed his side’s lead out to a game-high 25 points.
Brynn Teakle answered quickly though, slotting a set shot on the right side of the forward pocket for his second goal at the Kangaroos.
Tom Liberatore drew a high free kick in the third term and extended the Dogs’ lead to 32 points as they started to run away with it, having kicked fiver of the last six goals.
Treloar piled on more pain after marking inside 50 then snapping a goal around his body.
“They look like they’re getting their confidence in their game back as they try to charge home.” Dunstall observed.
Both clubs activated their subs, Zach Fisher (tactical) and Taylor Duryea (foot) exiting the game in the game third term.
The Roos weren’t done with yet though, kicking consecutive goals through Curtis Taylor and Tristan Xerri to get back within 24 points.
The Dogs led 10.10 (71) to 6.3 (39) at the final change.
If it wasn’t already, Weightman put the scoreboard out of reach with a with a mark inside 50 on the boundary line and snap goal.
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Source Agencies
