The fifth game on Saturday for AFL Round 16 is between Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne Kangaroos. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40pm with the game to be played at Gabba. The favourite for the match is away team North Melbourne Kangaroos. View our preview and teams for the game between Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne Kangaroos.

Round: Round 16 7:40 PM July 13, 2013
Stadium: Gabba
Weather: 21° Mostly fine

Featured Bookmakers:

Brisbane Lions $2.75 vs North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.45 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Brisbane Lions $2.65 vs North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.48 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Brisbane Lions	2.75	2.75	2.65	2.75	2.75	2.77
North Melbourne Kangaroos	1.45	1.45	1.48	1.45	1.45	1.46

Preview:

It was only late in the game but, Brisbane finally did get the better of their opponents last week, the Gold Coast suns and were able to record a 33 point win – their second victory in three weeks.

It saw them move to 20 competition points and whilst their chances of making this year’s finals our slim at best, they have put in some strong performances in the second half of this year’s competition and claimed the scalps of Geelong and Essendon.

North’s numerous narrow losses this season have been well documented however they turned it on for their supporters last week, thumping Richmond by 62 points.

It was clearly their best performance of the year and displayed what the side is capable of but they need to back that effort up with a similar performance this week as they sit two wins off eighth placed Port Adelaide.

They are yet to win three on the trot this season however, will fancy their chances of adjusting that stat here given the last time these two sides met, back in round 4 of this year, North recorded a whopping 63 point victory.

North have won the last three clashes against Brisbane and simply put, need to win this one.

They are ranked fourth in terms of Goals in the competition compared to Brisbane’s 16th ranking and should be able to amass too many points for Brisbane to counter here.

Teams:

Brisbane Lions:
B: Mitch Golby, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull
HB: Ryan Harwood, Justin Clarke, Brent Staker
C: Pearce Hanley, Ryan Lester, Jed Adcock
HF: Dayne Zorko, Jonathan Brown, Tom Rockliff
F: Ashley McGrath, Daniel Merrett, Rohan Bewick
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Jack Redden, Daniel Rich
Int: James Polkinghorne, Andrew Raines, Josh Green, Sam Mayes
Emerg: Patrick Karnezis, Sam Docherty, Elliot Yeo

In: J.Polkinghorne
Out: B.Moloney (calf)

North Melbourne Kangaroos:
B: Lachlan Hansen, Scott D. Thompson, Aaron Mullett
HB: Taylor Hine, Nathan Grima, Shaun Atley
C: Sam Gibson, Daniel Wells, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Leigh Adams, Drew Petrie, Levi Greenwood
F: Aaron Black, Robbie Tarrant, Brent Harvey
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int: Ben Cunnington, Brad McKenzie, Jamie Macmillan, Michael Firrito
Emerg: Taylor Garner, Ben Jacobs, Luke Delaney

In: –
Out: –

Fast-start Roos have Lions wary

Jed Adcock believes Brisbane are all too aware of North Melbourne’s fast-starting nature following their AFL hiding by the Kangaroos earlier this year.

The Lions were caught napping by North in round four as the Kangaroos hopped away to a 33-point lead before cruising to a 63-point win.

It was a thrashing which clearly stung the Lions, with Adcock at pains to emphasise his team’s need to start well in Saturday’s rematch at the Gabba.

“It’s really important, our first 30 minutes, that’s our focus going in,” Adcock said on Wednesday.

“If we get that right, it gives us a chance.”

The Lions co-captain is confident Brisbane are a better team than they were earlier in the season and they’re keen to start climbing the ladder following last weekend’s defeat of local rivals Gold Coast.

A miracle win over Geelong last month showed what the Lions are capable of but in Adcock’s mind it’s picking up victories against the teams around them on the ladder that matter more.

“Gold Coast were around us, that’s a good start, but that’s the gap we’ve got to close,” Adcock said.

“It’s probably been similar for a few years.

“We haven’t been making that headway into the group above us. It’s got to change some time.

“Hopefully we can change it this week.”