Rd 18 - Collingwood vs North Melbourne - Sat 21/07 1:45pm MCG

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The urgency increases this week for these finals aspirants, both of whom are smarting from losses last round that were disappointing for different reasons. The Pies, in suffering their first loss in two months at the hands of West Coast at the MCG, missed an opportunity to join league leader Richmond on 12 wins, while an impressive North Melbourne was pipped at the post by Sydney in a thriller. The absence of Collingwood big man Mason Cox was telling, and his availability would boost the Pies enormously. Darcy Moore made an encouraging return in defence and he'll need to play a key role in limiting the influence of North forwards Ben Brown and Majak Daw. The midfield battle will be pivotal with Roos combination Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington taking on Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, neither of whom played to their usual lofty standards against the Eagles.

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No late changes.