Gold Coast SUNS speedster Jarrod Harbrow said his side needs to put the clamps on North Melbourne’s nippy forwards if it’s to taste victory at Etihad Stadium for the first time on Sunday.

Despite the fact his team is posting much lower scores than last season, fleet-footed small forward Lindsay Thomas has managed 11 goals in six games after he posted a career-high 53 last season, while 35-year-old Brent Harvey continues to amaze as a midfielder/forward.  The latter got the better of his nemesis Ryan Crowley in the win over Fremantle last week with 29 touches, and he has averaged 24 disposals and a tick over a goal per game this season.

“’Boomer’ Harvey is obviously playing really good football and Lindsay Thomas is always dangerous around the forward line,” Harbrow said.

“We’ll back our defenders in, that’s for sure, to match it with them and go with them, and hopefully beat them in those contests.

“It obviously starts with the midfield, so I suppose the onus is definitely on our midfield to stand up and start really well.”

The Kangaroos were the AFL’s cardiac kids last season, and more often than not ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline.  The Shinboners lost all six games decided by a single figure, and in all they lost 10 games by three goals or less.

In stark contrast, the Roos have sealed the deal in two tight contests so far this campaign;  a seven-point win over Port Adelaide in round 3 followed by last weekend’s 13-point, come-from-behind victory over Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.

Last season, North was ahead at the quarter-time break in 10 of its first 11 matches, including the clash with the SUNS at Metricon Stadium in round 11.  The Kangas managed to win just four of those contests.  This season, though, they are running out games, and Gold Coast can’t afford to give the home side a four-goal head start like it did 12 months ago and expect to win.

“The way they’re playing now, they’re proving they’re definitely up there with the top clubs in the AFL,” Harbrow said.

“We’re playing them at Etihad; they know that ground fairly well and they’ve had a lot of success there.

“It’s a massive game for us.  We’re going down there to really challenge them and play our best footy.”