Star Roo fit for AFL clash against Blues

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has declared star onballer Ben Cunnington a certain starter for Sunday’s AFL clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

The 25-year-old received treatment for a knee injury during the Roos’ spiteful win over Melbourne but has shown no ill-effects at training.

“He’s fine – we don’t anticipate even needing to test him, we’ve picked him and he’s all-clear,” Scott told reporters on Friday.

Cunnington was fined, rather than banned, after he punched Demon Bernie Vince in the stomach and Scott said it was clear the practice would no longer be tolerated.

“If you clench your fist and make contact with an opposition player you’re at massive risk,” he said.

“It would be an incredibly stupid decision for any player this round to clench a fist and make contact with an opposition player.

“We’ve had clear communication that will result in at least a report … and if there’s any level of force it will be a suspension.”

North have recovered from a disastrous 0-5 start to the season to move to 14th on the ladder having won three of their past four matches.

The 16th-placed Blues also have a 3-6 record and have proved a tough nut to crack defensively without regularly getting the desired results.

Brendon Bolton’s side were rocked by the season-ending knee injury to key defender Sam Rowe last week, with likely replacement Liam Jones unavailable through injury.

The Roos’ formidable attacking tall trio of Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite and Mason Wood loom as a key factor, but Scott isn’t banking on aerial domination.

“They’ve been really solid and consistent in their defensive effort, so we’re going to have to be at our best with our ball movement,” he said.

“You would think, on paper, that would suggest there might be a vulnerability there but they’ve got a No.1 draft pick (Jacob Weitering) who can go back (there).

“They’ve brought in top-five picks in Lachie Plowman and Caleb Marchbank who are very good players in their own right.

“So I think they’ve got enough flexibility to cover it.

“But we look at our forward line as a unit and hopefully we can get goals multiple ways, not just from one or two big blokes.”

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