Kangaroos seek AFL payback against Bombers

9 Aug 2012, 5:47 pm   -   Source: AAP

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott says Sunday's clash with Essendon is a huge game for both clubs' AFL finals aspirations.

Coach Brad Scott hopes North Melbourne's recent experience in cut-throat games will count for something in Sunday's AFL round-20 blockbuster against Essendon.

Essendon assistant Mark Thompson sees the Etihad Stadium clash as like a grand final for the Bombers, who are eighth on the ladder with 44 points, wedged between seventh-placed North (44) and ninth-placed Fremantle (44) on percentage.

Since North's 115-point hiding at the hands of Hawthorn on June 2, the Kangaroos have won seven of their past eight games.

Essendon, in contrast, lost four of their past five matches but showed promising signs with a brave effort to go down by just four points in Adelaide against the Crows last week.

A loss for Essendon or North on Sunday could cost a place in the eight and make it tough to get back in with three rounds remaining.

"Essendon are certainly treating it as a huge game," Scott told reporters on Thursday.

"We've been in the fortunate position for the last eight or so weeks where every game we've played has been critical to the ladder and to a potential finals spot.

"This game is just another one of those for us.

"Our club, our players, our coaches welcome the pressure that comes from a big game. It's certainly going to be a great atmosphere at Etihad Stadium.

"It's a big result for both teams. But it's not foreign to us.

"We've had the proverbial eight-point game a few times."

Scott says the Kangaroos, who've finished ninth in the past two years, have been seeking this kind of pressure and exposure for a long time.

"We're going to look forward to testing ourselves against genuinely-good opposition in what will be - particularly the importance Essendon place on the game - probably a finals-type atmosphere," Scott added.

Scott made several references to how this was a big game for the Bombers but, clearly, it's a must-win encounter for both sides.

North struggled against lowly Western Bulldogs in the first half last week, before surging clear to win by nine goals.

Scott knows the Kangaroos have to lift against the stronger teams such as Essendon, particularly with Brownlow Medal favourite Jobe Watson in vintage form.

"Sides have tried both (negative and attacking tactics) and none of them has worked," Scott said.

"He's dominated whatever sides have tried to do against him.

"We'll be trying to come up with something a bit different because we have to nullify his influence.

"He's such a dominant player that if he plays well, they generally do."

Scott said while he was simply seeking another win to aid North's finals push, the club's fans desperately wanted a victory against traditional rivals the Bombers after Essendon's two-point win in round one.

"If you think back to the late 1990s in particular, with the North-Essendon rivalry, it's always something our supporters really look forward to," Scott said.

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