Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's clash against North Melbourne on Saturday night.

ESSENDON v NORTH MELBOURNE

Saturday, July 11
7:40pm AEST
Metricon Stadium
Live on Channel Seven 

THE HISTORY

Games played - 158
Won – 100
Lost – 57
Drawn – 1

THREE QUICK FACTS

1. Chasing five in a row

Essendon will be striving for its fifth consecutive win over North Melbourne for the first time in 19 years. The Bombers' current winning streak against the Kangaroos stretches back to round 18, 2017, with an average winning margin of 27 points in that period.

2. Bombers' watertight defence

The Bombers last week achieved something it hadn't done since 1954: keep Collingwood goalless in consecutive quarters. They're ranked fourth for least points conceded per game, while North Melbourne has struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard, sitting 14th for points scored and kicking the lowest score in round five.

3. Kangaroos missing Cunnington

The Kangaroos haven't been able to win without Ben Cunnington since round 14, 2013, losing all six games their contested bull has missed since then. His injury troubles have coincided with North Melbourne's three-game losing streak, with the star midfielder sitting out rounds three and four and not finishing last week's defeat to the Western Bulldogs. The Kangaroos' task will be made even harder without fellow hard nut and captain Jack Ziebell for a second consecutive week.

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 17, 2019: Essendon 12.14 (86) defeated North Melbourne 12.9 (81) at Marvel Stadium

In one of the matches of the 2019 season, this win is best remembered for Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's match-winning snap in the dying seconds.

The Bombers got the early jump and looked set for a comfortable victory until the Kangaroos launched a stunning fightback led by Ben Brown, who booted six goals.

Not to be intimated, Essendon absorbed North's physicality and hit back in the third term to regain the ascendancy, but would need McDonald-Tipungwuti's last-gasp heroics to secure the four points.

Trailing by a point, the Bombers surged forward with repeated inside 50s until they got their rewards through their star small forward, who received a handpass in traffic from Jayden Laverde and snapped from a tight angle to reclaim the lead with less than 30 seconds left.

The victory sent fans into raptures and the Bombers into the top eight, marking their fifth win in six starts and second against North in 2019.

FORM 

Essendon
Round one: Defeated Fremantle 9.9 (63) to 8.9 (57) at Marvel Stadium
Round two: Defeated Sydney 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) at the SCG
Round four: Lost to Carlton 8.3 (51) to 7.10 (52) at the MCG
Round five: Defeated Collingwood 10.3 (63) to 7.6 (48) at the MCG

The fifth-placed Bombers enter their Queensland hub with momentum after their best performance of the season. Andrew Phillips and Mitch Hibberd have held their position in the line-up after making their club debuts last week, while Essendon will only be bolstered by the returns of Zach Merrett and Conor McKenna this week. Veterans Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker were among the side's best against Collingwood, but it's the improvement of youngsters like Andrew McGrath and Jordan Ridley that has helped fuel the Bombers' surge up the ladder. While the season is still in its infancy, there are signs the Bombers are growing in familiarity with their new-look game-plan as the coaching succession plan unfolds smoothly.

North Melbourne
Round one: Defeated St Kilda 8.8 (56) to 7.12 (54) at Marvel Stadium
Round two: Defeated GWS 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60) at GIANTS Stadium
Round three: Lost to Sydney 8.12 (60) to 10.11 (71) at Marvel Stadium
Round four: Lost to Hawthorn 8.6 (54) to 8.10 (58) at Marvel Stadium
Round five: Lost to Western Bulldogs 5.8 (38) to 13.9 (87) at Marvel Stadium

The Kangaroos started the season with inspired victories over St Kilda and GWS, but have hit a roadblock since to find themselves on the wrong side of the ledger. They were comprehensively beaten against the Dogs last week, having just one player - Jy Simpkin - surpass 20 disposals as the Dogs dominated possession and took nine more marks inside 50. Post-game, coach Rhyce Shaw said his side had to rediscover its brand that stood up in the opening two rounds.

TEAMS

ESSENDON

Backs: 18. Michael Hurley, 26. Cale Hooker, 8. Martin Gleeson
Half-backs: 42. Adam Saad, 14. Jordan Ridley, 45. Conor McKenna
Centre: 33. Brayden Ham, 1. Andrew McGrath, 4. Kyle Langford
Half-forwards: 3. Darcy Parish, 15. Jayden Laverde, 13. Orazio Fantasia
Forwards: 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 20. Jacob Townsend
Followers: 34. Andrew Phillips, 5. Devon Smith, 9. Dylan Shiel
Interchange: 11. David Zaharakis, 40. Will Snelling, 7. Zach Merrett, 46. Mitch Hibberd
Emergencies: 28. Ned Cahill, 16. Josh Begley, 10. Aaron Francis, 2. Tom Bellchambers

In: Merrett, McKenna

Out: Redman (omitted), Stringer (syndesmosis)

NORTH MELBOURNE

Backs: 34. Jamie Macmillan, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 18. Shaun Atley
Half-backs: 17. Jasper Pittard, 19. Josh Walker, 37. Kyron Hayden
Centre: 13. Jared Polec, 12. Jy Simpkin, 14. Trent Dumont
Half-forwards: 4. Shaun Higgins, 44. Cameron Zurhaar, 8. Bailey Scott
Forwards: 26. Tarryn Thomas, 50. Ben Brown, 31. Curtis Taylor
Followers: 22. Todd Goldstein, 11. Luke McDonald, 3. Jed Anderson
Interchange: 15. Paul Ahern, 35. Jack Mahony, 42. Tom Campbell, 43. Aaron Hall
Emergencies: 2. Marley Williams, 16. Aiden Bonar, 23. Ben McKay, 38. Tristan Xerri

In: Scott, Ahern, Campbell

Out: Williams (omitted), Xerri (omitted), Cunnington (injured)

BOMBER TO WATCH

Jordan Ridley

Jordan Ridley's rise in 2020 hasn't gone unnoticed in the footy world, capturing the attention of the Bombers' games record holder last week.

"Ridley quality. Spoils at right time, good mark, great kick and plays the game," Dustin Fletcher tweeted during the win over Collingwood.

It's high praise from one of the best defenders the game has ever seen, but warranted when you look at Ridley's numbers.

Earning a regular spot in a talented half-back line, the fourth-year Bomber sits inside the League's top 20 (all averages) for marks (fifth), one-percenters (fifth), rebound 50s (15th), effective disposals (16th) and contested marks (17th), going about his business with a touch of grace and class.

He's coming off back-to-back votes in the AFL Coaches Association's AFL Champion Player Award and quickly becoming a crucial part of the Bombers' staunch rearguard.

DANGEROUS OPPONENT

Jy Simpkin

Jy Simpkin, North Melbourne's No.12 pick in the 2016 draft, is enjoying a career-best year as he looks to join the game's elite midfielders.

Stepping up with more time in midfield, the highly touted 22-year-old has recorded the ninth most disposals and sixth most clearances in the AFL after five rounds.

While those numbers are telling, it was his ability to stand up in the Kangaroos' inspired opening wins of the season that made the footy world stand up and take notice.

Leading a midfield without Cunnington and Ziebell, Simpkin's role on Saturday night will only become more crucial, so he'll be at the forefront of the Bombers' thinking.

KEY TALKING POINTS

1. Filling the Stringer void

How do the Bombers replace their leading goalkicker of the past two seasons?

It's a serious question they'll need to answer, as they navigate a lengthy period without injured forward Jake Stringer.

While there's no like-for-like replacement on paper, senior coach John Worsfold this week discussed shifting backman Cale Hooker to a forward line already without Joe Daniher and James Stewart.

Worsfold might also look at the returning Conor McKenna, who has been preparing for the occasional switch to the forward line and striking a balance between defence and attack.

Stringer was at his dangerous best against Collingwood last week, booting three goals and laying seven tackles before suffering a syndesmosis injury that will sideline him for six to eight weeks.

2. Pressure, pressure, pressure

While Essendon has lifted its intensity at the contest in 2020, last week's pressure set a new benchmark.

The Bombers simply suffocated the Magpies, stopping their run and forcing them to retreat by hand.

They laid 15 more tackles than Collingwood - forwards McDonald-Tipungwuti, Stringer and Jacob Townsend had seven each - to lift their ranking to second overall for tackles and tackles inside 50 per game.

The Kangaroos love to play a physical brand of footy, so if the Bombers can bring the same heat against them, expect a bruising encounter. 

3. The Bomber army

Finally, the Bombers can play in front of their proud and passionate supporters again.

With a limited capacity allowed at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night, expect the players to feed off the energy of the Bomber faithful, who will outnumber their North Melbourne counterparts.

The Bombers have a strong showing of supporters in the Sunshine State, evident in last year's turnout of 15,759 at Metricon Stadium - the stadium's second highest of 2019.

The Bombers completed a hard-fought win over North Melbourne on Saturday night, running out 14-point victors at a slippery Metricon Stadium after a wasteful first half.

Despite concerns about Essendon's scoring power with forward ace Jake Stringer (ankle) added to the injury list alongside spearhead Joe Daniher (groin), the Bombers manufactured ways to goal in their 9.13 (67) to 7.11 (53) win.

Quietly and without much fanfare, the Bombers have won four of the five games they've played this season, with their win against the Roos backing up last week's surprise victory over flag fancy Collingwood. 

While gun midfielder Dylan Shiel was subdued by North Melbourne, young pair Andrew McGrath (25 disposals) and Darcy Parish (21 and seven clearances) stepped up, while Orazio Fantasia played one of his best games in some time with 19 disposals off half-back. 

David Zaharakis, too, returned to form with three goals while Conor McKenna, in his first AFL game since his positive COVID-19 test, showed his run from defence. 

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein was excellent with 19 disposals and 30 hitouts, feeding the likes of Jy Simpkin (23 disposals) and Aaron Hall (23), but the Roos were let down in attack with Ben Brown's form struggles continuing. 

The Bombers trailed by five points at quarter-time but restricted North to only four more goals thereafter in what was another tick for the club's improved balance of attack and defence.

Shiel set for scrutiny

Fresh from blanketing Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli last week, North's Luke McDonald headed straight to midfield gun Dylan Shiel at the opening bounce. His intentions were clear: he was there to negate the in-form Bombers midfielder, stop him, pressure him, niggle and annoy. Shiel was restricted to five disposals in the first half and after battling a leg niggle early in the third term returned to the field, where he laid a high bump on NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Curtis Taylor after running past the ball. Taylor was floored, left the field, then headed back off for a concussion test before returning to the field in the fourth term. Shiel, who finished with 12 disposals, had been a Brownlow Medal fancy heading into the clash, but is certain to come under Match Review Officer scrutiny.

'The Bull' crashes through again

Cam Zurhaar was at his physical, combative best for the Roos, creating havoc around the stoppages, and again he had Bomber Michael Hurley in his sights. Last year when the sides met it was Zurhaar's huge bump that broke Hurley's collarbone and saw him miss five weeks. The strongly-built North forward again lined up the Essendon defender on Saturday night with a crunching bump in the second quarter, flattening Hurley, but fortunately there was no injury this time around. It was Zurhaar's best game of the season, with the powerful Roo booting two goals and finishing with a season-high 19 disposals. 

Zacka strikes back

It has been a tough season for David Zaharakis, who has been in danger of losing his spot in Essendon's side as he averaged just 10 disposals this year. He's been shifted into a new role, playing as a half-forward that helps sets up defensively and covers off for others, drawing him away from the contest. That changed against the Roos, though. The veteran kicked three goals – including a brilliant snap in the third term – from 20 disposals and could have had a couple more after some gettable misses. With Jake Stringer missing, the Bombers needed to find another avenue to goal and Zaharakis stepped up.

ESSENDON                         2.5       5.11       8.11    9.13 (67)
NORTH MELBOURNE      3.4       4.7      6.11    7.11 (53)

GOALS

Essendon: Zaharakis 3, Langford 2, Laverde, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Snelling, Townsend

North Melbourne: Zurhaar 2, Atley, Brown, Goldstein, Higgins, Scott

BEST

Essendon: McGrath, Zaharakis, Fantasia, Parish, Saad, Ridley

North Melbourne: Goldstein, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Dumont, Hall, McDonald 

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil

North Melbourne: Anderson (quad) replaced in selected side by Williams, Taylor (head)