North Melbourne coach Brad Scott doubts even double-teaming Richmond's Jack Riewoldt at the MCG on Sunday can quell him in his current form.

The 21-year-old Tiger has snared 43 goals and taken 54 marks in the past eight rounds to be the AFL's form forward and leap to the lead in the Coleman Medal race.

While Kangaroos fullback Scott Thompson looms as Riewoldt's likely starting opponent, Scott said there would be no stopping him if the Tigers controlled the midfield.

"He's been in fantastic form and something Jack's been able to show is that regardless of (defensive) help, he's taking pack marks two and three times outnumbered," Scott said.

"He's a terrific contested mark, he looks really athletic, he's full of confidence and his teammates upfield have total confidence in him.

"They appear to kick it to him regardless of how many numbers are back.

"So we're going to have to put a lot of pressure on through the midfield to restrict his influence, because I don't think we're going to be able to rely on one or even two defenders to stop him."

Scott said Riewoldt was emblematic of what he expects will be a long-term rivalry between two clubs in development mode, something they are trying to formalise with Sunday's match the third edition of their annual Eureka game.

He said supporters would enjoy comparing the development of the likes of Riewoldt with emerging Kangaroos' key forward Lachlan Hansen, and first-year midfielders such as Tiger Dustin Martin and Kangaroo Ben Cunnington.

But while Hansen, taken at No.3 in the 2006 national draft, is currently being outshone by Riewoldt, selected 10 picks later, Scott doubted Hansen would be spurred by the comparison.

"I wouldn't have thought so, I say to all the players ... once you're drafted, the draft order is irrelevant," Scott said.

"But something I think would spur Lachie on is that he had a poor game last week, by the standards he's set himself over the last month, and he would be keen to atone for that performance."

Scott hoped all the Kangaroos would be spurred after losing last round's vital clash with Sydney, costing them a move into the eight.

It makes Sunday's game almost must-win, if they are to bridge the gap to the eight.

"Every game now, because of the loss last week, becomes vitally important for us, so last week was the cliched eight-point game," he said.

"This week we're hanging on, we've got to win it to stay in contention."

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