HEAD TO HEAD: North Melbourne 17 wins, Port Adelaide seven wins, no draws
LAST TIME: North Melbourne 19.15 (129) d Port Adelaide 14.9 (93), round 13, 2010 at Etihad Stadium
TV, RADIO AND BETTING: Click here for broadcast guide and odds
A full replay will be available on afl.com.au 12 hours after the completion of the match
FORM: North Melbourne: LLBLL Port Adelaide: LLLWL
SUMMARY
Both clubs are coming into this match on the back of humiliating losses. North coughed up an early lead to go down to the Tigers by nine points while Port made unwanted history when it gave up a 40-point lead in the third quarter to become the first team to lose to Gold Coast in the AFL.
Power coach Matthew Primus was moved to apologise to his club's supporters after the three-point defeat while Brad Scott was almost as scathing of his charges.
Port Adelaide is in 14th position on the ladder after round five while the Kangaroos are mired at the bottom of the premiership table.
Both have shown the ability to play some good footy in patches and both will be desperate to notch a win in what looms as a line-in-the-sand game. The loser here will find it extremely difficult to claw back inside the top eight.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Roos dig themselves out of a 0-4 hole? Brad Scott sounded an ominous warning after their latest defeat. Some players will feel his wrath at the selection table and those that escape the axe will need to respond.
How mentally strong are Matthew Primus' men? The Power was universally lambasted for surrendering a healthy lead and succumbing to the Suns. The players need to dig deep here.
PREDICTION
North Melbourne by six points
TOYOTA AFL DREAM TEAM WATCH
Brady Rawlings has dropped $43,800 in price and is a reasonable pick-up at $340,500. He's averaged 80 points a game so far, but kicked it up to 86 against Richmond and is one to watch. Jackson Trengove is one of those highly sought after hybrids and the ruck/defender scored a season high 80 points against the Suns. At $215,200 it could be time to take a punt on him.
Follow the game live in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au and join the conversation on Twitter using #aflnorthpower
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
