THE LAST time these clubs met, Carlton held on for a one-point victory in a Friday night thriller last season. While this should give the Blues plenty of confidence and they will be desperate to bounce back after last Saturday’s disappointing loss to the Swans, they face an uphill battle on Friday night. Two weeks ago at Etihad Stadium the Kangaroos were impressive in defeating the Hawks by 20 points and they followed this up by thrashing St Kilda at Blundstone Arena last Saturday. Carlton has won three of its past five games against North Melbourne, all at Etihad Stadium, but this shapes as a much tougher assignment against an in-form Kangaroos.




WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, July 18, 7.50pm AEST

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LAST FIVE TIMES
R17, 2013, Carlton 16.13 (109) d North Melbourne 16.12 (108) Etihad Stadium
R16, 2012, North Melbourne 24.5 (149) d Carlton 14.12 (96) Etihad Stadium
R19, 2011, Carlton 11.14 (80) d North Melbourne 9.8 (62) Etihad Stadium
R12, 2010, North Melbourne 14.13 (97) d Carlton 10.8 (68) Etihad Stadium
R18, 2009, Carlton 14.10 (94) d North Melbourne 11.18 (84) Etihad Stadium

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THE SIX POINTS
1. North Melbourne has won eight of its past 11 games against Carlton.

2. Kangaroo key forward Drew Petrie kicked only seven goals in eight games in the first nine rounds but has booted 21 goals in his past eight matches.

3. The Kangaroos are second for disposal efficiency this season at 73.7 per cent. The Blues are 11th at 71.7 per cent.

4. Carlton's Mick Malthouse is undefeated in four head-to-head coaching battles with North Melbourne’s Brad Scott, a former assistant to him at Collingwood.

5. North Melbourne is one of only four teams this season to score more behinds than goals, having a scoring accuracy of 47 per cent.

6. After making a late start because of surgery on a troublesome Achilles and then straining a hamstring in his comeback game, champion Carlton midfielder Chris Judd has struggled to make a significant impact this season. He started the year at No. 21 in the Official AFL Player Ratings but has dropped to No. 137.

PREDICTION: North Melbourne by 10 points