More to Dogs than JJ: North coach Scott

Jun 22, 2017 - 5:31 PM No Jason Johannisen, no Western Bulldogs? North Melbourne coach Brad Scott won't be making that mistake.

The Norm Smith medallist has struggled to have an impact in the Dogs' past two games - losses to Sydney and Melbourne - after being targeted physically by the opposition.

Johannisen had nine possessions against the Swans and 15 against the Demons - well down on his season average of 23.

The Kangaroos take on the Dogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night but they won't be putting all of their eggs in the 'Stop Johannisen' basket.

"The Bulldogs' defenders have been really influential for them probably over the past 24 months with the way they've played," Scott said.

"Even without Robert Murphy last year they were still able to generate a significant amount of drive from their back half.

"They've got a number of players who can do that, so we'd be foolish to think it's Johannisen alone who can do that.

"So we're going to have to have a forward structure that is on their game to be able to limit their impact on the game."

Scott made three changes for the clash, bringing in Majak Daw, Andrew Swallow and Jamie Macmillan to replace Kayne Turner (knee), Lachlan Hansen (omitted) and Jed Anderson (omitted).

The Dogs lost Tom Boyd to a calf injury and Lin Jong to a season-ending knee injury and added Tom Campbell and Jack Redpath.

Despite their lowly ladder position, the Roos are only two games outside the eight in one of the most even seasons in the league's history.

But a bright patch of form that saw them win four out of five matches has been dimmed by successive losses in the past fortnight.

"It's obviously disappointing not to win the last two weeks but the most disappointing thing for me has been the way that we've gone about it - it's lacked a bit of Shinboner identity," Scott said.

"That involves our ball movement and it involves the way that we want to pressure the opposition with the ball.

"They've both been lacking the last two games."

Source: AAP