North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide AFL Round 1 tips – 21/3/2021

North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide betting preview

A new-look North Melbourne outfit will take on a seemingly finals-bound Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium this Sunday in round one of the 2021 AFL Premiership season.

The difference in strength between these teams is obvious; the Kangaroos notched up just three victories in 2020, while the Power lost only three games as they won the minor premiership.

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With Jaidyn Stephenson moving to Arden Street in the offseason, there is plenty to like about the direction the Roos are heading under the stewardship of new coach David Noble.

Port Adelaide couldn’t quite convert an excellent 2020 season into premiership success, so Ken Hinkley will want his charges firing from the off as they look to go even further this year.

Key matchup: Jaidyn Stephenson vs Orazio Fantasia

Two of the most exciting small forwards in the AFL found new homes in the 2020 trade period. Jaidyn Stephenson and Orazio Fantasia are best known for their work inside 50, but we could see both players spending more time in the midfield this season. While we do think this contest will be very one-sided, it will be a good battle within the game to see which of these two new recruits will start their 2021 campaign better.

North Melbourne Kangaroos betting info

Expectations are not high at North Melbourne this season, and we expect the Roos to get off to a slow start. With the prolific Ben Brown pushed out of the club at the end of 2020, the likes of Nick Larkey, Cam Zurhaar and Stephenson will be expected to kick a majority of the goals this season. Larkey is the pick of North Melbourne’s first goalscorer options at $10 with Sportsbet.

North MelbourneKangaroos

• Lachie Young
• Ben McKay
• Shaun Atley
• Jack Ziebell
• Aidan Corr
• Luke McDonald
• Jared Polec
• Luke Davies-Uniake
• Jaidyn Stephenson
• Kayne Turner
• Josh Walker
• Tarryn Thomas
• Jack Mahony
• Nick Larkey
• Cameron Zurhaar
• Todd Goldstein
• Tom Powell
• Jy Simpkin
• Curtis Taylor
• Bailey Scott
• Aiden Bonar
• Dom Tyson
• Charlie Lazzaro (Emg)
• Will Phillips (Emg)
• Connor Menadue (Emg)
• Tom Campbell (Emg)
• Coach: David Noble

Port Adelaide Power betting info

After a strong 2020 campaign, Port Adelaide looks primed to take another step towards its first flag since 2004. Zak Butters and Ollie Wines will continue to improve in the midfield, while Charlie Dixon is paying great odds of $9 to win the Coleman Medal. The Power finished atop the AFL ladder after round one in 2020 and could do it again against a very vulnerable North Melbourne side.

Port AdelaidePower

• Zak Butters
• Charlie Dixon
• Robbie Gray
• Orazio Fantasia
• Peter Ladhams
• Steven Motlop
• Xavier Duursma
• Ollie Wines
• Karl Amon
• Aliir Aliir
• Tom Jonas
• Darcy Byrne-Jones
• Ryan Burton
• Tom Clurey
• Dan Houston
• Scott Lycett
• Willem Drew
• Travis Boak
• Todd Marshall
• Miles Bergman
• Kane Farrell
• Riley Bonner
• Tom Rockliff (Emg)
• Mitch Georgiades (Emg)
• Sam Mayes (Emg)
• Lachlan Jones (Emg)
• Coach: Ken Hinkley

North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide betting predictions

Port Adelaide Power to win by 40+ points

With the new rules in place, many AFL experts are predicting more blowouts as the good teams run around loose defences with ease. The Power are one of the best teams going around, while the Roos are in the midst of what could be a long rebuild. This contest could get ugly quickly if the Power kick accurately.

Robbie Gray to kick 2+ goals

There are very few players who have as big an impact on matches as Robbie Gray when he is up and about. Given the Roos do not have an outstanding backline, Gray is in the box seat for a large one this Sunday. He can mark and kick set shots, crumb and snap goals from the field and get out the back for easy goals with his high footy IQ.

North Melbourne vs Port Adelaide AFL same-game multi

With Orazio Fantasia slipping into the forward 50, Zak Butters is free to get up the ground, especially now that Brad Ebert has retired and Travis Boak is more open to playing forward. The Power should flex their muscles early in this contest and put on an uncatchable margin by half-time, with Robbie Gray looking extra dangerous in front of the big sticks.