NORTH Melbourne will be treating Saturday's Bellerive Oval tussle with Adelaide as a final before the finals, with defender Ben Jacobs saying the Crows are the "perfect" opposition to create that September atmosphere.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Roos will encounter an Adelaide team not only desperate to keep its season alive after its heartbreaking loss to Richmond on Saturday night, but one that has defeated them the past three times, including by 36 points just eight matches ago.
"On Saturday, there will be two teams out there looking to find their best form, and it is great for us to be able to play a team like Adelaide so close to the finals," Jacobs told The Examiner yesterday.
"This will be a good dress rehearsal for us, as we are two sides that are potentially going to play finals.
"We want to be able to beat a team that is of finals quality [so close to the actual finals starting]."
Jacobs, the former Port Adelaide midfielder who has found a place in North's back six in recent times, said the magnitude of last week's win over the Western Bulldogs (50 points) was a confidence booster for a team known for playing in spits and spurts in 2014.
"For the rest of the year, we are just looking to play four quarters of footy, rather than playing in patches," the 22-year-old said.
Jacobs has played 10 games this season, including the past seven in a row, which has given him a career total of 43, and is averaging 15 touches and three marks a game.
He matched his season best of 21 touches a fortnight ago against Greater Western Sydney, a total he also achieved a week earlier against Geelong.
"For me, I'm enjoying my new role and being able to play consistently in the ones, even though I'm still finding my feet back there," he said.
"It would be great if I get to play in a final."
The AFL yesterday announced all public tickets to Saturday's match had been sold.
A crowd of 10,641 witnessed North defeat St Kilda in the previous match in Hobart this year.