I don't think North have the players to stop our small/medium forwards and I don't think we have anyone to stop Petrie. Henderson is the likely match up but will need plenty of help.

Hansen is likely to play down back but Pederson and Edwards are the others that could cause a few problems. I would play Thornton on Pederson and Laidler on Edwards. Yaz on Campbell and no doubt they will bring in Thomas because of his record against us. Give the job to Duigen. Goldstein spends most of his time in the ruck and doesn't spend too long up forward. When he does, he almost always kicks a goal or two.

Firrito (did he get off?) might go to Walker, Thompson on Kreuzer and Hansen on a 2nd tall (if we bring one in). I reckon McMahon will get Garlett and Tarrant or his replacement will get Betts.

Wells is a big danger, he is in great form and we need to make sure Harvey doesn't have a day out. I think Carrazzo has to come in for one of these players. They have a few star midfielders but then it drops away. If Warnock can break even with Goldstein and we play team defense against Petrie we are a good showing.

Carlton by 3 goals.

That little runt, Harvey always has his best game for the year against us.
That new kid of theirs with the soccer background is going to be a player. 200+, fast, agile. What we want Hampson to be.
Setanta go a couple last week and would have to be better for the run. Like him or hate him, he IS tall and hits the packs hard.

If we lose this......

.....it will spoil your birthday on monday!!!

It's already spoilt by the customs agent here holding our stuff on the wharf for 6 days without looking at it. We had to slip the removal. I was hoping to spend my birthday by the pool at the new house.
Have you told Oscar that Juddy named his kid after him?
Blues easily but I'd rather be on the road to Progreso than watching it in the wee hours of Friday morning.

I like to think that the boys have learned from what happened last year, and won't let Norf pants them again.

Apparently going in with a lineup that will expose North's lack of speed all over the ground. Looks like it'll be a small team again.

One of the big differences this year is our pro-activeness.

Ratts interview yesterday was really positive and confident as well. Good stuff !

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has ruled out recalling ruckman Hamish McIntosh or forward Lindsay Thomas for tomorrow night's crunch clash against Carton.
The Roos return to Etihad Stadium, where they have won their last two matches, and Scott said today he was happy with how his side was traveling at the moment.

''In terms of our ins and outs, Lindsay Thomas definitely won't play and Hamish McIntosh definitely won't play,'' Scott said after training this morning.



''They the two that I think our supporters probably would be thinking were a chance to play this week, but we don't think they're quite ready so we'll go in with a team that's done the job for us in the last couple of weeks.''

Thomas has had a good record against Carlton of late, but Scott said the forward was not ready to return from his VFL exile.