Since round 13 2005 – nine matches ago now, these two sides have taken turns winning these encounters.

If that trend is to continue, North is due for the win but with the home-side one of the most in-form teams of the competitions, the sequence looks set to be broken.

Fremantle haven’t been defeated since losing to Hawthorn in round 4 and posted a comfortable 40 point win over Brisbane in their most recent match. That was their fifth win from six home games this year.

North Melbourne’s frustrating season continued in round 11, their most recent match, with an unexpected loss (61-55) to Gold Coast Suns.

It was a game that the thirteenth placed North Melbourne could ill-afford and makes every game from here on in, a must win.

North has been given 25.5 here, not a bad margin given that in their seven losses this year, only once has it been by a margin greater than this, that was to Sydney however, Fremantle last three wins over North have been by 53, 29 and 61 points and at home, in their current form, would think they’ll be able to match the line here.

Odds comparison by AFL Odds:

Fremantle Dockers	1.30	1.28	1.26	1.28	1.30	1.29
North Melbourne Kangaroos	3.75	3.65	4.00	3.65	3.75	3.80

Teams:

Fremantle Dockers:
B: Zac Dawson, Luke McPharlin, Lee Spurr
HB: Clancee Pearce, Michael Johnson, Garrick Ibbotson
C: Paul Duffield, Ryan Crowley, Tendai Mzungu
HF: Nathan Fyfe, Chris Mayne, Stephen Hill
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Hayden Crozier, Michael Walters
Foll: Zac Clarke, David Mundy, Michael Barlow
Int (from): Alex Silvagni, Nick Suban, Matthew Taberner, Matt de Boer, Danyle Pearce, Tom Sheridan, Jack Hannath

In: M.Walters , T.Sheridan , M.Taberner
Out: –

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

In: L.Anthony, L.Delaney, L.Greenwood, B.Jacobs, B.McKenzie
Out: S.McMahon (ankle), W.Sierakowski