Friday’s only AFL Round 16 match is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Hawthorn Hawks with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50 PM local time with away team Hawthorn Hawks currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Hawthorn Hawks.
Round:Round 16 , July 04, 2014 , 7:50 PM
Stadium:Etihad Stadium
Weather:15° Shower or two developing.
Preview:
Round 16 of the AFL kicks off with the Roos playing the Hawks, Friday night, 7.50PM at Etihad Stadium. Hawthorn will go into this match as favourites, with five straight wins and 1st place on the ladder to defend. In contrast, the Roos have been very inconsistent this year, although at 7th position they are still in the running for the finals. If North Melbourne are serious about making a mark in 2014, they will have to bounce back from their loss against the Brisbane Lions last round, surely the low point of their season. Alastair Clarkson returns as Hawthorn coach this
Friday night, in a game the Hawks should win with ease.
Teams:
NORTH MELBOURNE
B Luke McDonald, Scott D. Thompson, Scott McMahon
HB Shaun Atley, Lachlan Hansen, Michael Firrito
C Sam Gibson, Andrew Swallow, Liam Anthony
HF Brent Harvey, Aaron Black, Nick Dal Santo
F Sam Wright, Drew Petrie, Lindsay Thomas
FOLL Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Levi Greenwood
I/C Ryan Bastinac, Ben Jacobs, Leigh Adams, Ben Brown
EMG Max Warren, Mason Wood, Trent Dumont
IN Scott McMahon, Lachlan Hansen, Liam Anthony, Sam Wright
OUT Max Warren (Omitted), Jack Ziebell (Knee), Aaron Mullett (Omitted), Brad McKenzie (Omitted)
HAWTHORN 
B Ryan Schoenmakers, Brian Lake, Ben Stratton
HB Shaun Burgoyne, Matt Spangher, Grant Birchall
C Isaac Smith, Jordan Lewis, Matthew Suckling
HF Paul Puopolo, Jack Gunston, Bradley Hill
F Luke Breust, Jarryd Roughead, David Hale
FOLL Jonathon Ceglar, Luke Hodge, Liam Shiels
I/C Angus Litherland, Taylor Duryea, Brad Sewell,Sam Mitchell
EMG Ben Ross, Ben McEvoy, Jonathan Simpkin
IN Sam Mitchell
OUT Cyril Rioli (Hamstring)
News:
Hawthorn have lost one star and regained another, with Sam Mitchell taking Cyril Rioli’s place for the Friday night AFL match against North Melbourne.
Mitchell has been out of action since round seven with a hamstring injury.
Rioli suffered his seventh hamstring injury last weekend and it will put him out of action for eight to 10 weeks, meaning his season could be over.
The Kangaroos reacted to last Saturday night’s shock loss to Brisbane by axing three players for their crucial match against the top side.
Jack Ziebell has a knee injury, while Aaron Mullett, Brad McKenzie and Max Warren were dropped.
The Hawks recalled Scott McMahon, Lachie Hansen, Liam Anthony and Sam Wright.
Essendon have left out veteran Dustin Fletcher and lost fellow in-form defender Michael Hibberd to an ankle injury for Saturday night’s away match against Port Adelaide.
Jason Winderlich and Mark Baguley will return for the Bombers.
Sam Gray joins key defenders Alipate Carlile (hamstring) and Jackson Trengove (ankle) as the outgoing Port players.
Dom Cassisi, Cam O’Shea and Aaron Young will take their spots.
A week after his five-week club suspension ended, Greater Western Sydney midfielder Toby Greene is back in the senior team for Saturday’s home game against Adelaide.
Meanwhile, Fremantle midfielder Anthony Morabito will finally return to the AFL, 1394 days since his last match.
Morabito has endured three reconstructions on his left knee since he played in the Dockers’ 2010 semi-final loss to Geelong.
After having to wait for several weeks, Morabito found out on Thursday morning that he will make his senior comeback in Saturday night’s match against Melbourne in Darwin.
“After training, (coach) Ross Lyon called everyone in,” Morabito told the club website.
“His last point was that I was in. I was a little bit shocked.
“All the boys were really happy, they embraced me. I was quite emotional at the time and I will cherish that moment.”
The 22-year-old also made his debut in 2010 and played 23 games.
