The clubhouse leaders after six rounds

North Melbourne has bolted away from the field in the first quarter of the season, leaping to 6-0 as the only team without a blemish on their record thus far. In the process, the Kangaroos have stamped themselves as the premier pressure side in the competition, ranked No. 1 for pressure factor and No. 1 for tackle differential. Their comprehensive restriction of Western Bulldogs’ run off half-back last weekend added Luke Beveridge’s side to their scalp bag for 2016, along with the impressive Adelaide in Round 1. With an ageing list and many players much closer to the end than the finish (Think Brent Harvey, Daniel Wells, Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite, Michael Firrito and Andrew Swallow), North Melbourne are fervently chasing a premiership this year before their window closes. If they add the Saints to their 2016 list on Sunday, it will be the first time since 1979 that North Melbourne has won seven straight to start the year.

Another week, another goliath task for Hickey

Whilst a large amount of last weekend’s pre-game attention focused on Melbourne’s Max Gawn, and this week’s has shifted to North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein, the other half of the battle within a battle is gradually receiving more praise by the week. Since grasping the sole ruck responsibility at the beginning of the season, Tom Hickey has gone from strength to strength in the opening six rounds of the season. The Queenslander played a significant role in the win over Melbourne, nullifying the influence of the red-hot Gawn who entered the game as one of the most damaging players in the competition. 2015 All Australian ruckman Goldstein hasn’t quite reached the dizzy heights of last season, but he is still the premier big man in the game through the first six rounds. Despite dominating the tap work against the Dogs, Goldstein was not as influential around the ground as usual, collecting only eight disposals.

Who? Where? How?

Alan Richardson has selection headaches inside forward 50. But they are the type of problems he wants to have. There are no injury concerns and players are banging on the door in the VFL. Last weekend’s assortment of Nick Riewoldt (three goals), Josh Bruce (two goals) and surprise packet Tim Membrey (five goals) helped the Saints to their highest score of 2016 with 20.15 (135). That trio, plus Blake Acres (two goals) and Jack Sinclair (two goals) were the beneficiaries of more polished inside 50 entries. From their 57 entries, St Kilda scored 50.9 per cent of the time (ranked 2nd for Round 6) and converted 28.1 per cent of their inside 50s into goals (also ranked 2nd). The powerfully built Membrey was dominant in his first appearance of the season after overcoming a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season, displaying the goal kicking prowess he has been renowned for across his football journey. With no room for Paddy McCartin and Jack Lonie part of the 25-man squad, competition for spots in attack is fierce. And it’s exactly what Richardson is after.

Tall towers set difficult task for Fisher, Dempster & co.

At the other end of the ground, North Melbourne possess attacking weaponry of their own. The combination of the vastly improved Jarrad Waite, Drew Petrie and Ben Brown has transformed the Kangaroos into one of the more potent teams in the competition. Waite’s phenomenal start to 2016 has him in All Australian discussions at this stage of proceedings, and with good reason. The former Carlton spearhead has booted 22.6 (ranked 3rd in the AFL), but more importantly he has kicked crucial goals when they’ve mattered most, not when the game has been over or in pure blowouts. Brown has kicked 13 majors to start the year, whilst milestone man Petrie has kicked eight. Sunday will mark Petrie’s 300th appearance in blue and white, with the durable key forward becoming just the 74th player in the history of the game to reach the milestone. Although with Brent Harvey still running around and in the same side, milestones don’t quite have the same feel at Arden Street, as Petrie alluded to throughout this week.

Do you want to line up with St Kilda royalty?