Field Marshal: North Melbourne has the toughest run home as it clings on to a top-four spot
NORTH Melbourne is suddenly facing a fight to hang on to a top-four spot but no side has a tougher run home than the Kangaroos. How does your club fare?
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WE had been waiting for North Melbourne to pick on someone its own size.
The Kangaroos didn’t like the notion, but their blazing 9-0 start to the season came with an asterisk — most of the true contenders still lay in wait.
Now, with their coach reeling from a record fine, president in hot water for offensive comments and an injury list growing weekly, the Roos are surrounded by heavyweights.
North is 1-3 over the past month, having lost to Sydney, Geelong and Hawthorn and suddenly faces a fight to hang on to a top-four spot.
According to Champion Data’s draw difficulty index, no side has a tougher run home than the Kangaroos, who face a rampant Adelaide — in Adelaide — tonight. West Coast at Subiaco is up after their Round 15 bye.
In a ladder containing only matches played against top eight sides, North Melbourne sits only sixth at 2-3 with a percentage of 90.7.
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West Coast’s struggles are highlighted by a poor record against its premiership rivals.
The Eagles are still winless (0-5) against top eight opposition in a record that will do nothing to dispel the flat-track bully tag. Geelong is the runaway leader at 6-1 and a percentage of 134.8, underlining its premiership credentials.
GWS and Hawthorn are 4-3, while Sydney is 4-2.
The Cats could prove difficult to dislodge from the minor premiership as they are considered to have the second-easiest journey to September. An ominous-looking GWS has the best run home.
Closer analysis reveals those two clubs move the ball better than anyone else in games against the top-eight. The numbers say the Cats and Giants are able to play their best football against the best.
North Melbourne faces a daunting final 10 rounds.
The Roos have to play two top-four sides (Sydney and Hawthorn) and six top-eight sides (Adelaide, Sydney, Hawthorn, West Coast, GWS and Western Bulldogs) in the second half of the season.
North skipper Andrew Swallow yesterday dismissed talk his side was being found out by quality opposition.
“For us it’s all external talk, it doesn’t really bother us. We feel we’re in a good position, we’ve laid a good foundation for our season and we’ve just got to continue now,” Swallow said.
“Apart from the Sydney game where they really touched us up, I think we’ve been competitive in the other games and probably should have won the game against Hawthorn.”
Originally published as Field Marshal: North Melbourne has the toughest run home as it clings on to a top-four spot
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