Friday’s only AFL Round 17 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7.50pm 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 Carlton Blues.
Round: Round 17 7:50 PM July 19, 2013
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 15° Shower or two.
Featured Bookmakers:
North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.80 vs Carlton Blues $2.00 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.80 vs Carlton Blues $2.00 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| North Melbourne Kangaroos | 1.80 | 1.82 | 1.80 | 1.82 | 1.80 | 1.77 |
|
Carlton Blues
|
2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.05 |
Preview:
Fair to say both of these sides – who are outside of the top eight heading into this round – have been disappointing this season.
North did it again last week! Again?!
On three separate occasions during their game against Brisbane last week, North led by as much as 32 points but, when Brisbane kicked the last three majors of the third quarter and the first three of the final quarter, that sickening and all too familiar feeling swept of North.
In the end North fell 12 points shy of Brisbane’s total (117 – 105) and they are placed eleventh on the ladder, two wins outside of the eight.
Carlton, snapped a four game losing streak with a 36 point win over St. Kilda last week. Prior to that win, it had been a tough month for the Blues in terms of the draw and they had to face three of the top four teams.
The appreciated the opportunity to face a team ranked below them on the ladder and, sitting in ninth spot, one win outside of the eight, the get their opportunity to register back-to-back wins and build some momentum as we start the run into the finals.
Over the past four years, these two sides have taken in turns of winning the five clashes between the two with North recording a big 149 – 96 win in round 20 last year.
North have won 5 from 8 at Etihad this year but only one of those wins has been against a teams ranked higher than them on the ladder.
It’s hard to tip North with any confidence (especially at the current quote) and believe, despite losing four of their last five, Carlton (bar their Collingwood effort) have been more consistent form.
Teams:
North Melbourne Kangaroos:
B: Lachie Hansen, Scott Thompson, Aaron Mullett
HB: Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Grima, Scott McMahon
C: Sam Gibson, Daniel Wells, Shaun Atley
HF: Ben Cunnington, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Aaron Black, Robbie Tarrant, Lindsay Thomas
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell
Int: Brad McKenzie, Ryan Bastinac, Leigh Adams, Taylor Hine
Emerg: Luke Delaney, Levi Greenwood, Will Sierakowski
In: McMahon Thomas
Out: Firrito Greenwood
Carlton Blues:
B: Matthew Watson, Michael Jamison, Lachie Henderson
HB: Zach Tuohy, Andrew McInnes, Bryce Gibbs
C: Chris Yarran, Chris Judd, Kade Simpson
HF: Ed Curnow, Andrew Walker, Jeffrey Garlett
F: Brock McLean, Sam Rowe, Heath Scotland
Foll: Matthew Kreuzer, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy
Int: Andrew Carrazzo, Jaryd Cachia, Kane Lucas, Dennis Armfield
Emerg: Levi Casboult, Mitch Robinson, Simon White
In: Nil
Out:
Carlton boosted by win, not North’s loss
If North Melbourne’s growing reputation for losing the unloseable is boosting Carlton’s confidence ahead of a critical AFL clash, the Blues aren’t saying so.
Carlton midfielder Kade Simpson says the Blues won’t treat Friday night’s Etihad Stadium match any differently, but admits it is yet another huge battle for his side now they are firmly back in the top eight picture.
The Kangaroos’ reputation for squandering big leads grew again after they coughed up a 33-point third-quarter advantage to lose to Brisbane at the weekend.
It is the seventh game North have lost by 16 points or less this season, and the fourth in which they have coughed up a 30-point lead to lose.
North’s defeat also heightens the stakes in the battle between the ninth-placed Blues, who hold their destiny in their own hands, and the 11th-placed Kangaroos, who don’t.
Simpson believes the Blues’ weekend win over bogy side St Kilda is more helpful to their confidence levels than any perceived North mental fragility.
“To get that win, it probably takes a bit of the pressure off and puts the enjoyment back in football,” Simpson said on Monday.
“There’s probably about six sides that have cemented their (finals) spot, but there’s probably about four or five that are fighting it out for two spots in the eight.
“The Kangaroos are one of those sides, along with us.
“I wouldn’t see us setting ourselves any different from any other week.”
Carlton had lost four matches in a row prior to the 36-point win over St Kilda.
Simpson said Blues forward Jarrad Waite was some chance of playing on Friday night as he battles a knee injury which kept him out of the Saints’ clash.
Waite’s loss wasn’t felt, with key forwards Lachie Henderson and Sam Rowe booting seven goals between them in his absence.