For all the marbles

While every game of AFL is important, the circumstances leading up to Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne make this match the biggest one Freo will have played in 2012 to date. Win and a spot in the final eight can be confirmed with an expected victory over lowly Melbourne. But lose to the Roos and Freo could have the blues - that of the Carlton variety. Brett Ratten’s men would likely only require wins over second-bottom Gold Coast and an out-of-finals-contention St Kilda to displace Freo from the eight. The match is equally massive for North Melbourne with a win all but wrapping up a home final considering the Roos face GWS in round 23.

Roos in form

North has won its past four matches thanks largely to a goal kicking accuracy of 60 per cent and an average 12.4 per cent better kicking efficiency than its opponents over that period. The Roos also rank in the top four in the AFL in both points scored and conceded over the past 10 rounds, which have seen the club win nine matches. Freo’s renowned pressure will need to be at its intense best.

The Coleman race

For the second week running, Matthew Pavlich faces off against a rival in the race to win the Coleman Medal. After outscoring Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt three goals to two last week, it’s North’s Drew Petrie up next. The Freo captain has a five goal buffer on the Kangaroos’ spearhead.

Time to start beating the top teams

Against the teams currently in the top half of the ladder, Freo has won just two of nine games this season. One of those was in round 1 against the defending premiers Geelong and the other more recently in the Carlton Mid Derby. If the club wants to be considered a legitimate finals contender, it needs to start beating the top teams, starting with North Melbourne on Sunday.

Etihad confidence

After some lean seasons at Etihad Stadium, Fremantle under Ross Lyon in 2012 is unbeaten in two games at the ground, including an impressive win against St Kilda in round 4. The Kangaroos are also very tough to beat at the ground with an imposing 10-2 record there this year.