Iconic night for AFL

Saturday night’s encounter isn’t only a blockbuster fixture due to its finals importance; it is also an iconic moment for the game. North Melbourne veteran Brent Harvey will eclipse a record that most thought would never be broken. The five-time Syd Barker medallist will break the games record, passing Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck with his 427th AFL appearance. The little champion has an unblemished record when it comes to his milestone games, having won every one from 50 games to 400 games, including when he passed Glenn Archer on 312 to break the Kangaroos record and even last weekend when he drew level with Tuck. St Kilda will need to overcome an imposing record. As for the man called ‘Boomer’, his form hasn’t wavered this season. Despite being 38, he has continued to find plenty of the ball, averaging 20.5 possessions and 3.9 inside 50s. He’s also kicked 29.18, closing in on his personal best of 36 in 2007 when North reached the penultimate week of the season.

Eight-point game ahead of September

While there are still a handful of sides inside the top-eight not guaranteed a trip to September just yet, North Melbourne are the most vulnerable, sitting two games above ninth spot with five games to play. History would point to it being unlikely for the eight to change, but it’s a mathematical possibility. And given it’s the Saints who sit in ninth, Saturday night’s clash looms as an ‘eight-point’ game. If St Kilda loses, they will be three games adrift the Kangaroos, but if they win the gap is only four points. Talk about a final in July. It’s a great position to be in for the Saints considering where they sat after that disappointing trip to Adelaide in Round 11. Since then, they have won five of six to make a late surge. However, Brad Scott’s side has had the better of St Kilda of late, winning the past five encounters dating back to the end of 2011.

Don't miss out on your chance enjoy the Saints Premier Lounge for the final time this year!

Is Jack Steven the in-form player in the competition?

Since the Saints’ embarrassing performance – as Alan Richardson referred to it – against Adelaide in Round 11, the tide has turned and turned significantly. And a big part of that turnaround has been Jack Steven. Not that his form earlier in the year wasn’t out of the top drawer, it’s just gone to another level in the last six weeks and the whole football world has begun to finally take notice. Hallelujah. AFL Media’s Brownlow predictor has him down for four best on ground performances in that time, taking him to 19 votes on their board, two behind Patrick Dangerfield and Luke Parker. He’s four sets of three votes are from performances against Carlton, Geelong, Essendon and the Bulldogs. Talk about a phenomenal patch of football. The two-time Trevor Barker Award winner is averaging 29.2 possessions (No. 9 in the AFL), 5.7 inside 50s (No. 3), 5.9 clearances (No. 12), 6.3 tackles (No. 17) and 56.4 pressure points (No. 9). Does a maiden All Australian guernsey beckon? What about a Brownlow medal? Ponder that.

Tall trio set sizeable task for back six

When North Melbourne were flying in the early part of the season, their trio of tall forwards – Jarrad Waite, Ben Brown and Drew Petrie – were destructive. If sides contained one, or even two of them, the other would bob up and dominate. As the side’s fortunes changed through the belly of the season, injury and form hit. But on Saturday night, Jarrad Waite, who was in All Australian form in the opening quarter of 2016, returns after overcoming hip soreness. Petrie returned to form last Friday night against Collingwood with his pressure standing out, while Brown has been a consistent force this year, seemingly unstoppable at times in the air. With the Saints short of key defenders, they will be looking for a similar team orientated effort like last week. Sean Dempster and Dylan Roberton both produced their best performances of 2016, while Sam Gilbert and Jarryn Geary were very strong. The back six was well organised as it has been all season long. And it will need to be again this weekend, with Harvey, Lindsay Thomas and Jed Anderson in there as well.