Brad Scott says North Melbourne’s delivery inside 50 must be on song for Western Bulldogs clash

FRIDAY night’s clash between North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs is the match of the round, but Kangaroos coach Brad Scott has warned not to expect a shootout.

North Melbourne vice-captain Jack Ziebell clears the ball out of the middle. Picture: Colleen Petch

FRIDAY night’s clash between North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs is the match of the round, but Kangaroos coach Brad Scott has warned not to expect a shootout.

The competition’s best offence is set to meet the tightest defence, with the undefeated Roos the competition’s top scorers with an average of 112.5 points a game.

The Dogs have restricted sides better than any other team, conceding just 56.6 points a game, and Scott is wary of the team he finds difficult to fault.

“(A shootout) is a possibility ... but they’re pretty well covered in all areas right at the moment,” he said.

“They’re an exceptional defensive unit. I think they average about 14 goals (a game) this year, so it’s not so much that they’ve been blowing teams out of the water offensively.

“They certainly have been dominating the contest and then they defend really well as well.

“If you do those do things really well you tend to get the ball back, so they’re an offensive threat as well.”

North Melbourne had nine individual goalkickers against Gold Coast last week and 10 in its win over Fremantle in Round 3, with Scott pleased the responsibility hasn’t just been left to talls Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown.

Supply inside 50 will be a key focus, he said, despite the obvious height advantage to his side.

“While our talls may have a perceived advantage, it’s going to be the supply that they get that I think is important,” Scott said.

Brad Scott wants North Melbourne to focus its delivery inside 50. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“I think (the talls have worked together) really well, but the smalls have been an important component, too. There are a lot of guys who cycle through there.

“Our offensive unit has been going OK, but primarily it’s been the way that they’ve defended for us that has given them the opportunity to score going the other way.”

The undefeated Kangaroos know they have a job on their hands with Scott admitting it is difficult to fault the Bulldogs who have dominated defensively over the first five rounds.

“They’re pretty well covered in all areas right at the moment,” he said.

“They’re playing great footy with the ball and are a clear No. 1 in both the contested possession area of the game and the uncontested area. When you’re winning those two things, you’re going to be hard to stop.

“While our talls may have a perceived advantage, it’s going to be the supply that they get that I think is important.”

Ben Brown kicked four goals in North Melbourne’s win over Gold Coast last week. Picture: Getty Images

Scott said the match poses a “fixture win” for the AFL in what is shaping up to be a stellar Friday night face-off, and said his side is keen to seek revenge after falling to the Bulldogs in Round 2 of last season.

“Right now it’s a really exciting opportunity for the Bulldogs and North to take centre stage and show what kind of footy they’re capable of playing,” he said.

“They got the better of us in the Round 2 clash last year and we’re looking to bounce back from that.”

Scott said the late withdrawal of Mason Wood last week was simply a case of horses for courses, while Lachie Hansen — who has travelled with the team to Hobart and the Gold Coast in recent weeks — is “really close” to making a return.

“He’s going to be a really important part of our 2016 campaign and he keeps reminding me of that each week when I don’t play him,” Scott said.

“He’ll get his opportunity sooner rather than later.”