Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 21 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs. The opening kick is set to commence at 13:10 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The home team North Melbourne Kangaroos are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Western Bulldogs.
When: 13:10 | Sunday 12/08/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
The Kangaroos are pushing for a place in the top 8 and they should be very confident against a Dogs team which has been hit with injury.
Jack Ziebell was again strong for the Roos and he has been one of the most dangerous forwards in the game and his leadership is strong for the Kangaroos.
Marcus Bontempelli was explosive in the third term against the Saints but he’s had a poor year by his standards, so hopefully he finishes off the year with the form he is capable of.
KEY BATTLE: Kangaroos midfield v Bulldogs midfield
Whoever wins this battle will have the upper hand.
The Verdict
North will have too much to play for.
The Kangaroos have a 22-15 (59.5 percent) O/U record as a home team, after an interstate match since 2012.
Unibet Odds:
North Melbourne Kangaroos at $1.30
Western Bulldogs at $3.60
Odds:
Tip: North Melbourne Kangaroos at $1.30
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Ben Brown at $7.00
More Info:
Teams:
North Melbourne Kangaroos: 
B: Daw, Thompson, Wright
HB: Macmillan, Tarrant, Williams
C: Ahern, Anderson, Dumont
HF: Simpkin, Waite, Wood
F: Ziebell, Brown, Turner
FOLL: Goldstein, Cunnington, Atley
I/C (from): Higgins, Hrovat, Davies-Uniacke, McDonald, Mountford, Clarke, Walker, Murphy
IN: Higgins, Davies-Uniacke, Murphy, Mountford
Western Bulldogs: 
B: Morris, Naughton, Richards
HB: Crozier, Cordy, Johannisen
C: Hunter, Macrae, Lipinski
HF: Gowers, Schache, McLean
F: Dickson, Bontempelli, Roughead
FOLL: Trengove, Dunkley, Wallis
I/C (from): Young, Honeychurch, Porter, Greene, Jong, Daniel, Lynch, English
IN: Gowers, Young, Honeychurch, Porter, English
OUT: Smith
AFL News:
A horrendous miss from Brisbane rookie Cameron Rayner has handed North Melbourne a thrilling three-point AFL victory.
The Lions were 24 points down early in the last quarter but staged a dramatic comeback and looked ready to deliver a potentially fatal blow to North’s finals hopes.
They kicked the last three goals of the match and had the backing of a boisterous 18,395-strong crowd at the Gabba as they closed in.
Rayner had a chance to win it with about 30 seconds to go from a free kick on a slight angle.
But the 18-year-old rushed it, pushing it right and blowing what was a golden chance to win it for Brisbane.
The Kangaroos were left breathing a huge sigh of relief, with the win ensuring they remain right in the hunt for September action.
The 16.11 (107) to 16.8 (104) result is their sixth consecutive win over the Lions, a run of dominance that stretches four years.
They now sit in ninth position with only percentage keeping them out of the finals positions, although they still cannot afford a misstep in their last three matches.
North faces Western Bulldogs (home), Adelaide (away) and St Kilda (away) to complete the minor round – teams who are all out of finals contention.
Jack Ziebell starred with three goals and 26 possessions for the Kangaroos.
Dayne Zorko had a game-high 35 touches for the Lions – 15 of them contested – to go with nine clearances and two goals.
Brisbane were hot and cold.
They made a poor start to the match, conceding the first three goals, but reeled the margin back in and were five points ahead at quarter-time courtesy of a 55-metre roost from Rayner.
The Kangaroos kicked away in the second term, booting seven goals to three and leading by as much as 29 points at one stage.
A run of three unanswered majors to start the third quarter put the Lions back in front.
But again they fell away and the visitors were 11 points in front at the last change.
