North Melbourne coach David Noble has a easy technique in thoughts to forestall Port Adelaide’s tall forwards dominating Saturday’s AFL assembly in Hobart.
“Keep the ball off them,” he grinned this week.
Jeremy Finlayson, Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades have been all influential in spherical eight because the Power trumped the Western Bulldogs for a 3rd successive win.
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And with North Melbourne dropping key defender Ben McKay to a knee damage for at the least one match, Noble has a key concern to deal with at Blundstone Enviornment.
Port face a defensive rejig with captain Tom Jonas sidelined by well being and security protocols, changed by Martin Frederick.
And the Roos additionally will reshuffle their backline with versatile tall Josh Walker more likely to revert to a defensive function whereas Luke McDonald may also add his expertise at half-back.
However Noble, who has narrowed the main focus of his game-plan round contested ball and defence, sees the Kangaroos’ defensive efforts beginning additional up the bottom.
“I think there’s a balance between defence and attack,” he stated.
“If we can attack better and move the ball in and try to keep it in that front half, then that denies the opposition a little bit.
“We have felt like if we get that proper we might be within the sport for an extended time period.
“We’ve got to adjust that and get our guys to work. We’ve got to win the contested ball, it starts there.”
On high of McKay’s damage, North Melbourne have additionally misplaced younger star Jason Horne-Francis (hamstring) and fellow midfielder Hugh Greenwood (well being and security protocols).
It makes the duty of combating a robust Port Adelaide midfield, led by seasoned veteran Travis Boak and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines, even more durable.
Main goal-kicker Nick Larkey returns from suspension in a lift to the Kangaroos’ ahead line.
The tall goal has booted 17 objectives from seven video games this season, greater than double North Melbourne’s next-most prolific goal-kicker Cameron Zurhaar, who has eight.
The rebuilding Kangaroos managed simply three objectives in a 78-point thumping from Fremantle final week – their sixth-straight loss – and are looking for better consistency of their performances.
“The energy is really good, the players have got great awareness and their debrief this week was fantastic in regards to what we learnt from the (Fremantle) game,” Noble stated.
“We’re hoping that it’s not too far away but the biggest thing for us is to do it quarter in, quarter out.
“That is what you have to drive for.”
