Adelaide's post-Patrick Dangerfield era will kick-off under rookie coach Don Pyke with a tantalising rematch of last year's season-opener. The Crows belted North by 77 points at Adelaide Oval in 2015, but this time the Roos have the home ground advantage and their preparations have been much more settled. The spotlight will be on the Kangas and coach Brad Scott, who has never tasted victory in Round One.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Saturday, March 26, 7.25pm AEDT
LAST FIVE TIMES
R1, 2015, Adelaide 21.14 (140) d North Melbourne 9.9 (63) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2014, North Melbourne 14.17 (101) d Adelaide 13.16 (94) at Blundstone Arena
R13, 2014, Adelaide 16.13 (109) d North Melbourne 10.13 (73) at Adelaide Oval
R20, 2013, Adelaide 11.13 (79) d North Melbourne 10.10 (70) at AAMI Stadium
R9, 2013, Adelaide 18.17 (125) d North Melbourne 19.10 (124) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Adelaide has had a strong track record against the Kangaroos in recent times, winning four of the last five meetings after North won the previous three.
2. Brad Scott will be hoping to end his Round One hoodoo. The North Melbourne coach hasn't won a season-opener from six attempts.
3. North will be extremely wary of Adelaide star Taylor Walker. The new Crows skipper tore the Roos apart when he took 15 marks and bagged six goals, leading his side to a thumping 77-point win in Round One last season at Adelaide Oval.
4. Saturday night will be a battle between two of the game’s elite tap ruckmen. North's All-Australian big man Todd Goldstein set a new record with 1058 hit-outs in 2015, while Sam Jacobs was ranked third with 859.
5. Both sides boast plenty of strong-marking tall timber in attack. Taylor Walker (72) took the second-most marks inside 50 last year, while North veterans Drew Petrie (62) and Jarrad Waite (55) were ranked in the top 10.
6. Shaun Higgins stands on the verge of breaking into the Official AFL Player Ratings' top 100 for the first time coming off his career-best season for North. The ex-Bulldog is 104th overall, having climbed 263 spots last year.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Brad Scott. The coach will hope his aforementioned barren run in Round One fixtures is consigned to history with the Roos desperate to hit the ground running after being forced to play catch-up to reach finals in 2015.
AFL MEDIA PREDICTION: North Melbourne by 19 points
