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Now the 2015 fixture has been released, it is time to lock in the key dates.

NMFC.com.au looks at the games that loom as the most anticipated for the club next year.

View North's full fixture | View 2015 AFL fixture

Former foes, former teammates
- Round 9 v Collingwood, Sunday May 31
- Round 18 v Carlton, Saturday August 1
- Round 22 v Western Bulldogs, Saturday August 29

Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins arrived at North Melbourne during 2014’s free agency period, but the first encounter against their respective former sides won’t come until much later in 2015.

First on the agenda will be a meeting against Levi Greenwood and Collingwood in Round 9. The former Roo requested a trade to the Magpies, netting North pick 25 in return.

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Milestone men
Nick Dal Santo’s 300th game – Round 16 v Essendon, Friday July 17
Brent Harvey’s 400th game – Round 17 v Brisbane, Saturday July 25

Considering Dal Santo has barely missed a game in the last decade of his career, it’s a safe assumption he’ll reach the 300 game milestone very close to the first possible opportunity.

However there is the possibility of having an AFL first, with a 400th and 300th occurring on the same evening given Harvey is only 16 games from a magical milestone. To stretch a little further, Nathan Grima, Shaun Atley and Sam Wright could all reach the 100 game mark at a similar time of the season.

Finals rematch
- Round 4 v Geelong, Sunday April 26
- Round 7 v Essendon, Friday May 15
- Round 11 v Sydney, Saturday June 13

While North will play the Cats and Bombers twice each, this will be the first opportunity for all sides to resume their rivalries after meeting in the 2014 finals series.

Of course, the Kangaroos will be the hunted after knocking the two Victorian sides out of September, but the script will be reversed when the Swans come to town.

The first time in five years the two sides have met in Melbourne, it should attract a big crowd and a high quality encounter at Etihad Stadium.

Home comforts
- Round 21-23 at Etihad Stadium
- Sunday August 23, Saturday August 29, Round 23 date TBC

With another finals berth the aim in 2015, the run home should set North Melbourne up well. Not having to travel in the last three weeks, and with only one interstate trip to Hobart in the last six rounds, the playing list should be in peak form if September is achieved once more.