Friday’s only AFL Round 1 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Essendon Bombers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50 PM 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 Essendon Bombers.

Round: Round 1, Friday 7:50 PM March 21, 2014
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 26° Rain developing. Windy.

Featured Bookmakers:

Odds Comparison:

North Melbourne Kangaroos	1.64	1.57	1.62	1.57	1.64	1.60
Essendon Bombers	2.25	2.45	2.35	2.45	2.25	2.30

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Tips: North Melbourne Kangaroos to win.

Preview:

SUMMARY
NORTH Melbourne is yet to win a round one game since Brad Scott took over as coach in 2010 and will be desperate to reverse that trend against Essendon. However, the Bombers have been fast starters in recent seasons, winning their past three round one clashes, including a memorable two-point win over the Roos in 2012. Both teams are coming off patchy pre-season form and will be without key players – Essendon will miss Tom Bellchambers and Jake Melksham, and North is minus Andrew Swallow and Robbie Tarrant. It looms as a hard-fought clash, but the Roos seem to have greater potency in attack, which might give them the edge.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R21, 2013, North Melbourne 17.13 (115) d Essendon 9.16 (70) at Etihad Stadium
R20, 2012, North Melbourne 15.10 (100) d Essendon 11.10 (76) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2012, Essendon 14.20 (104) d North Melbourne 15.12 (102) at Etihad Stadium
R13, 2011, North Melbourne 17.9 (111) d Essendon 12.18 (90) at Etihad Stadium
R17, 2010, Essendon 18.14 (122) d North Melbourne 18.11 (119) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. Since 2008, the teams have waged a close-fought rivalry, with North holding a 4-3 edge. The Bombers’ past two wins over the Roos have been by three and two points.
2. North won eight of 13 games at Etihad Stadium in 2013, averaging 119 points a game, while Essendon won five of 10 and averaged 99 points a game.
3. No team took more marks in 2013 than Essendon (2213), with North ranked sixth (2064).
4. The teams were at the opposite ends of the AFL’s free kick count last year, with North receiving the most free kicks of any club (445) and Essendon the fewest (348).
5. Despite missing the finals in 2013, the Kangaroos averaged 15 goals a game, ranked third in the AFL behind Hawthorn and Geelong.
6. Essendon captain Jobe Watson is ranked No. 5 in the competition in the Official AFL Player Ratings. North Melbourne’s best is Brent Harvey at No. 12.

Teams:

North Melbourne Kangaroos
Backs: McKenzie Grima McMahon
Half-backs: Atley Thompson Macmillan
Centres: Bastinac Ziebell Dal Santo
Half-forwards: Gibson Black Adams
Forwards: Thomas Petrie Hansen
Followers: Goldstein Wells
Rover: Harvey
Interchange: Cunnington Wright McDonald Mullett
Emergencies: Currie Tippett Nahas
New: Luke McDonald, 19, Werribee (VFL); Nick Dal Santo, 30, St Kilda

Essendon Bombers

Backs: Heppell Fletcher Baguley
Half-backs: Hibberd Hurley Hooker
Centres: Myers Watson Hocking
Half-forwards: Chapman Carlisle Howlett
Forwards: Zaharakis Daniher Hardingham
Followers: Ryder Goddard
Rover: Stanton
Interchange: Ambrose Gleeson J Merrett Z Merrett
Emergencies: Jetta Colyer Ashby
New: Paul Chapman, 32, Geelong; Patrick Ambrose, 22, Essendon (VFL); Martin Gleeson, 19, North Ballarat U18; Zach Merrett, 18, Sandringham U18