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North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL Round 5 Tips - Can the Kangas match motors with ominous Lions outfit?

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: Thu 09 Apr 2026 12:07

Adam Cusworth 09 Apr 2026

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The game will be played at Barossa Park on Saturday, 11th April, with the bounce at 12:35 PM (AEDT)
Can the young Kangaroos stick with the premiers?
Preview, expert analysis, stats, team news & best bet

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions, Round 5 2026 - Expert Prediction

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions, Round 5 2026 - Expert Prediction
Head to Head Stats
North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis
Brisbane Lions Form Analysis
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions Team List & News
North Melbourne Kangaroos Team News
Brisbane Lions Team News
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5 FAQ’s

North Melbourne face their toughest test of the season at Gather Round, and this shapes as a brutal reality check against a Brisbane side beginning to look every bit the premiership force again.

The Kangaroos have been one of the surprise packets of the opening month, but the Lions arrive in ominous form after dismantling Collingwood with 34 scoring shots and complete control around clearance and territory in their 54-point win last weekend. This is a significant step up from anything North have faced so far, particularly against a midfield and forward line capable of punishing every lapse.

That said, the Roos absolutely have the weapons to stick with Brisbane for large periods. Their contested work, stoppage pressure and clearance strength have been the backbone of their 3-1 start, and Luke Davies-Uniacke, Harry Sheezel and George Wardlaw should ensure they are competitive in the middle. If North can replicate the last-quarter intensity they produced against Carlton in their come-from behind 10 point win, they can keep this entertaining deep into the second half.

The challenge is whether they can sustain that pressure and contest work for four quarters against one of the best transition and scoring sides in the AFL. Brisbane’s uncontested possession chains, elite outside run and forward-half finishing power mean they only need short patches of dominance to put scoreboard separation on opponents. That is where this shapes as a Lions game — North can win their share in the middle, but Brisbane’s polish and ability to punish turnover should take over late.

Expect the Kangaroos to have their moments through stoppage dominance and contested ball wins, but Brisbane’s class should ultimately prove too much. The total points over appeals as the strongest betting angle with both sides averaging just under 100 points per game, while Brisbane in the 1-39 bracket looks the right margin play. Luke Davies-Uniacke for 30+ disposals is a value player prop, while Charlie Cameron’s excellent record against North makes him a strong 2+ goals selection.

Both sides are averaging just under 100 points per game this season.
Luke Davies-Uniacke had 32 disposals the last time the two sides met
Charlie Cameron has kicked 2+ goals in six of his past eight against the Kangaroos
The two sides fought out a draw in their most recent outing

Head to Head Stats

The two sides fought out a draw the last time they met, which was in Round 9 of 2025 with the match played at Hobart. Dayne Zorko had 39 disposals and Cam Rayner snagged three goals for the Lions, while Luke Davies Uniacke collected 32 disposals for the Roos.

Brisbane won the seven matches prior to that, including the 2023 and 2024 Gather Round matches by 75 and 70 points. Harry Sheezel has hit the 30+ disposals in two of his three matches against the Lions and had 29 in the other. Charlie Cameron has booted 17 goals in his eight matches against North and has hit the 2+ in six of those.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis

North Melbourne have made their best start to a season since 2016 and sit 3-1 after their come from behind victory against Carlton, turning a 22-point deficit at three-quarter time to a 10-point victory. Their other wins were agaisnt Port Adelaide by 46 and Essendon by 12, while they let slip a lead when going down to West Coast by 17 in Round 2.

Their improvement has revolved around their pressure and stoppage work, while their young guns have shown hunger and composure in the key moments. Harry Sheezel had 24 disposals in the win over Carlton, ending a run of seven straight matches of 30+, but he kicked a key goal late in the match, while he had six clearances. Luke Davies-Uniacke had 22 and nine clearances, while Colby McKercher was influential with 24 disposals.

Cooper Trembath booted three goals in the win and has kicked 3+ in five of his seven matches. In attack, North Melbourne are averaging 95 points per game, while they have improved defensively, conceding 83 points per game, an improvement on last season (105).

Brisbane Lions Form Analysis

After a slow an injury-effected start to the season that saw them lose their first two matches to the Western Bulldogs by five points and Sydney by 44, the Lions have bounced back with key players returning, handing St Kilda a 33 point defeat before the 54-point win over Collingwood.

They looked ominous in that victory, registering 34 scoring shots to 15, dominating the clearances (42-24) and inside 50s (64-45) through the uncontested possession chains.

Will Ashcroft picked up 36 disposals and has had 30+ in four of his past five matches, which include his Norm Smith Medal winning effort in the 2025 Grand Final. Kai Lohmann kicked four goals against Collingwood, while Logan Morris and Oscar Allen kicked three.

The former Eagle, Allen, is looking more and more comfortable by the week in his new colours, snagging five in his past two. Lohmann has kicked nine from four and has hit the 2+ in three of those, while Morris has eight from three, kicking 2+ in each.

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions Team List & News

North Melbourne Kangaroos Team News

No injuries for the Kangaroos to come out of the Carlton match. Griffin Logue will make his case for a return from a hamstring but is unlikely. The Roos have some players that are in some solid touch in the VFL, including Brayden George, Zac Fisher and Robert Hanson Jnr, but they may struggle to break into the starting 22.

Brisbane Lions Team News

Noah Answerth missed the Collingwood match with concussion and a decision on his return is yet to be made. Harris Andrews returns from suspension, while Hugh McCluggage is a chance to return from a calf injury. Darcy Gardner and Eric Hipwood remain on the sidelines.

North Melbourne	POS	Brisbane Lions
L. McDonald, G. Logue, C. Comben	B	K. Coleman, H. Andrews, R. Lester
C. McKercher, C. Daniel, T. Blamires	HB	D. Wilmot, J. Fletcher, D. Zorko
J. Simpkin, T. Powell, D. Stephens	C	B. Reville, W. Ashcroft, J. Berry
P. Curtis, C. Trembath, Z. Duursma	HF	C. Cameron, O. Allen, L. Ashcroft
C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, J. Darling	F	S. Draper, C. Rayner, T. Gallop
C. Coleman-Jones, L. Davies-Uniacke, H. Sheezel	FOLL	D. Fort, J. Dunkley, L. Neale
A. Corr, G. Wardlaw, C. Spargo, L. Parker, Z. Banch	I/C	K. Lohmann, H. McCluggage, L. McCarthy, L. Morris, Z. Bailey

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5 FAQ’s

How to watch North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5?

You can watch the North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside of Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5?

To buy tickets to the North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Brisbane Lions AFL 2026 Round 5 game check the AFL website or the official North Melbourne Kangaroos site.

Verdict

North Melbourne Kangaroos v Brisbane Lions

Kangas to stick with the Lions before the premiers get the upper hand when it counts in a high scoring contest. Luke Davies-Uniacke influential in the middle for North, while Charlie Cameron has scoreboard impact for Lions.

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