Preview: Geelong v North Melbourne

Geelong’s season continues to gather momentum since a slight hiccup in round nine against Collingwood. They have won their last 10 games by a staggering average of 63.9 points and they represent the best AFL betting come September. North’s recent form has seen them slip into premiership contention and they have shown why they always around come September. The Kangaroos revival has been lead by Brett ‘Boomer’ Harvey who has played himself into Brownlow contention. North have won their last six games on the trot including a comprehensive victory over Carlton last week and a comfortable victory over the wayward Bulldogs the week before. North Melbourne has come up empty handed in their last three encounters against Geelong. They met back in round 3 where the Cats held off a late surge by the Kangaroos to secure a 13-point win. Despite this they have won nine of the last 16 games since 2000. The significance of this week’s match lies in last year’s result from the 1st qualifier. North Melbourne were handed a humiliating defeat only topped by the humiliation Port Adelaide suffered in the Grand Final, Geelong ran out 106 point winners. If North win here they are almost certain to run fourth and face Geelong first up in September. North Melbourne are no stranger to playing and beating Geelong at Skilled Stadium. They have won four of their last 7 games at the cattery, including a 118 – 102 victory when they last played there in round 5, 2007. Interestingly, North have beaten Geelong 6 out of the last 10 times they have played when North has been lower on the ladder. On form, the Cats are red hot compared to North who are ‘toasty’. History says North can win this one and with up to four premiership players out of the cat’s starting 22 they look half a chance. Then again so did the Bulldogs when they were hammered by 61 points back in round 16. The writer, James Campbell, consults on AFL bets