AFL / Editor / 19 February 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

After a rough week at North Melbourne, with blood spilt on the boardroom floor and now the club's finances being publicly questioned, Stephen McManus foresees that it's only going to get rougher.

North head down to Geelong on Sunday to take on two top-four teams from 2010, and despite plenty of bluster, the going does not look good for the Shinboners.

The Kangaroos have named a squad, nine short of their best players, including Nathan Grima, Hamish McIntosh, Scott Thompson and Brady Rawlings. This does not bode well for a North team expected to struggle this season. Brad Scott has certainly instilled some toughness at Arden Street but the skill and talent just doesn't seem there. North clearly have the weakest of the three teams named and are disadvantaged by playing two straight matches to start.

The Western Bulldogs have also named a young squad, though the names Wallis and Liberatore will be familiar to many of the Bulldogs faithful. Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore, sons of Bulldogs legends Steve and Tony, will make their senior debuts for the club. Those boys will play alongside Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross, Shaun Higgins and Ryan Griffen so the Dogs should get plenty of it. With the likes of Hudson, Hall and Lake out, however, size may be an issue for Rodney Eade's team.

Geelong are certainly the team expected to progress to the second round of the NAB Cup from this pool. The Cats have a number of advantages. They get a major edge playing at Kardinia. This will be Chris Scott's first outing as coach of Geelong and he will be keen to make an immediate impact to signal all is fine in the post-Thompson/Ablett era. The Cats also get to play first and third, something that assisted West Coast markedly when playing at home in week one. This has allowed Chris Scott to pick an extended squad with Matthew Scarlett and Travis Varcoe the only big names missing from an impressive list.

In the opening clash, the Scott brothers meet each other for the first time. Geelong are deserved favourites. They traditionally treat the NAB Cup with respect and have won the pre-season competition in both 2006 and 2009. With such a strong outfit, it is tough to see North rolling them. Any price better than $1.30 in match odds is a play.

North and the Western Bulldogs clash in game two. This is an interesting encounter. The Bulldogs should win this. It is a make or break year for the Dogs. This is their last shot at the premiership. If they are serious, they should beat North. The Bulldogs at $1.50 is a bet but those playing the line should take the plus.

The winner of the pool will likely be decided in the final match. This will probably be the hardest contest of the opening round of the NAB Cup. Both teams have plenty to prove early on and both are looking reasonably strong. The Cats are likely to play their strongest side here.

Geelong are the team to beat but once again those without a strong leaning should hit the plus.