And while Larkey admits North are โas aware as everyone elseโ of the Bluesโ form, he is adamant Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson wonโt use it in his planning.
โYou prepare each week for the clubโs best rather than what they probably wish they had done differently,โ Larkey said.
โWhen theyโre up and going you see what they can do.
โThey can put 40 or 50-point leads on sides within a very short period of time, and weโve had our own momentum problems over the last few years.
โSo whenever you prepare for a club you prepare for their best, and thatโs what weโll do against Carlton.โ
North are without suspended star Tristan Xerri and will lean on Callum Coleman-Jones to lead the ruck against physical Carlton big man Marc Pittonet.
The game has plenty riding on it for both clubs, with the Kangaroos out to rectify a horror 1-8 win-loss record in their marquee fixture.
Players from both clubs visited the Royal Childrenโs Hospital during the build-up, with some of the proceeds from the match going to the Good Friday Appeal.
โYou get grounded from it, and hopefully you can make a difference to kidsโ days, weeks or years,โ Larkey said.
โThatโs what itโs all about and weโre lucky to be involved in it.
โItโs probably our biggest game crowd-wise, so the actual game itself is really exciting to play.
โWe havenโt had our best performances in it in prior years, but weโre hoping to rectify that.โ
After six years in the bottom three on the ladder, North have enjoyed a positive start to 2026 and would be unbeaten if not for throwing away a five-goal lead against fellow minnows West Coast.
Larkey has shone in attack in his first three matches since being appointed Jy Simpkinโs successor as captain, kicking 12.2 from 20 kicks.
โItโs nice to finish the work. The boys do a lot of work to get me the ball down there and I really feel an onus to be able to finish that,โ the 27-year-old said.
โI have a pride in kicking straight, and Iโve been able to do that so far.
โBut weโve had a bit better ball movement this year which has helped us as forwards and hopefully as the year goes on I can continue to kick straight for the team.โ
AAP
