North Melbourne has shown great promise in the 2026 season, securing five wins out of their first 11 matches. This marks the best start for the club under coach Alistair Clarkson so far. The Kangaroos have also achieved one of their largest comebacks in history, overcoming a 43-point deficit to win the game with a goal from Cameron Zurhaar just as the siren sounded.
Following their bye week, North Melbourne will travel to Bunbury to face Fremantle, who are currently at the top of the ladder. This match is one of two home games that North Melbourne has sold to Western Australia. The decision to move the game has sparked some controversy among fans and analysts.
On the Six Points AFL Podcast, Mark Stevens expressed his disappointment with North Melbourne’s choice to sell games as they aim for a wildcard spot. He argued that the team could have had a better chance of defeating Fremantle if the game had been held at Marvel Stadium, where it should be.
” Selling games is really on the nose. It’s maybe a necessary evil, but it’s still evil,” Stevens said. “If you’re a North Melbourne supporter, you are a chance of finally playing finals, oh hang on, look at the fixture, oh no we’ll just sell a game to Bunbury, we’ll go all the way over to Perth, and we’ll play Fremantle in a game over there.”
He continued: “So we’ll give Fremantle a free kick, the top side, just what they need at the moment, we’ll have another game in WA, it ruins the integrity of the fixture, sure you get your money, but seriously North Melbourne, if you want to take the next step, progress and become a competitor again, don’t sell games to Bunbury. It’s complete nonsense, and it ruins it for everyone else, because it gives Fremantle a free kick as well, you have a chance to beat Fremantle at Marvel.”
Daniel Harford believes the next five weeks could be crucial for North Melbourne’s wildcard aspirations. He pointed out that the team has positioned itself well, with two wins separating them from 14th place.
“Is there a wildcard in their future, Stevo? They’ve put themselves in a position now, their two wins clear of 14th,” Harford said. “The Kangas, all of a sudden, after that amazing comeback against the Gold Coast Suns, are in the running.”
He added: “They’ve got a big five weeks coming up, they’ve got the bye, then they go to Bunbury, one of those sold games to Fremantle, and then they’ve got a run of four games which they can win, West Coast at home, Richmond at the MCG, Essendon at Marvel and Port Adelaide in Adelaide.”
Key Fixtures Ahead
Here are the upcoming fixtures that could determine North Melbourne’s fate in the 2026 season:
- Bye Week: A much-needed break for the team to regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead.
- Match Against Fremantle in Bunbury: One of the two games sold to Western Australia, raising concerns about the impact on the team’s performance.
- Home Game Against West Coast: A chance to secure a win at Marvel Stadium.
- Game Against Richmond at the MCG: Another opportunity to gain valuable points.
- Match Against Essendon at Marvel: A key test against a strong opponent.
- Game Against Port Adelaide in Adelaide: A challenging away game that could determine their wildcard chances.
With these fixtures, North Melbourne has a real opportunity to make a statement and push for a playoff spot. However, the decision to sell games may affect their momentum and fan engagement. As the season progresses, the focus will be on whether the Kangaroos can maintain their form and capitalize on these critical matches.
