North Melbourne's push for its fourth win of the VFL season has been bolstered by the addition of one of the most promising young players in the country.

Having been suspended for two matches following the Kangaroos' Round 13 AFL match against Greater Western Sydney, Jason Horne-Francis is once more eligible to play.

The 19-year-old has been named in the forward line, but will likely mingle with experienced onballers such as Dom Tyson and Harry Jones, and have the opportunity to build match fitness and confidence.

Leigh Adams' side has been further strengthened by defender Atu Bosenavulagi, who has made eight senior appearances this season (and another as an unused substitute), and reserves-listed ruck Zach Monkhorst.

They are timely inclusions, with Callum Coleman-Jones and Flynn Perez having been called up to the senior team, and sharpshooter Mat Walker to miss.

Opponents Collingwood will present a healthy challenge at the AIA Centre on Sunday morning.

The ninth-placed Pies have a wealth of young midfielders who can win the ball and use it to effect, such as Fin Macrae, Trent Bianco, Caleb Poulter and Brown brothers Callum and Tyler.

If the Kangaroos can lean on Tyson and Horne-Francis to win the ball in close, and rely on a big, tough back six to blunt the Pies' entries, they'll be well on their way.

Jason Horne-Francis running through the twos

While most players on the east coast tread the NAB League path ahead of getting drafted, Horne-Francis had the opportunity to play senior football with South Adelaide in the SANFL. It boosted his prospects, as he became the first number one pick in North Melbourne history.

Such is the hype around Horne-Francis, the prospect that he could be phased back into the senior team through the reserves program was a major conversation starter in the lead-up to selection night.

It is important to remember earlier first-round selections such as Ben Cunnington and Luke Davies-Uniacke once plied their trade in the VFL team.

Senior regulars Todd Goldstein, Tristan Xerri, Nick Larkey and Ben McKay similarly spent long periods honing their craft in the reserves.

Stepping into the reserves presents Horne-Francis a brilliant opportunity to find the football and potentially dominate the opposition. He can build his leadership skills, his communication skills, and hone in on what he does best. We’ve certainly seen him succeed at state league level before in the SANFL.

Either way, the presence of someone in Horne-Francis’ ilk running through the midfield and forward lines is only going to benefit the team against Collingwood.

Ruck and roll stars

With the injury to Tristan Xerri and Callum Coleman-Jones being called up to the seniors, the remaining ruck options at VFL level will each need to step up in their own right to ensure first use of the ball to the midfield.

Zach Monkhorst looks set to shoulder the primary ruck load for the Kangaroos for the foreseeable future now, with his strength and athleticism allowing him to compete against opposition rucks who tower over him.

Behind Monkhorst, it can be expected that Jacob Edwards will continue his development as a versatile ruck/forward option. So far this season Edwards has shown flashes of the player he can become, so added responsibility could help bring out the best in him.

Versatile key position player Max Mitchell-Russell has also served as a pinch-hitter this season. While he was brought into the squad as a defender, his history as a key forward could see him shoulder some extra responsibility in the ruck.

Even the likes of Hamish Dick, Hamish Murphy and Mat Walker have contested at stoppages from time to time.

The loss of Coleman-Jones to the senior side, while exciting for the club, could be to the reserve program's detriment, but the Kangaroos aren’t short of options to cover for him.

Saturday, July 9

Collingwood v North Melbourne at AIA Centre, 11.05am AEST

B:  41. M McGuinness, 31. J Goater, 53. M Hore
HB: 37. K Hayden, 42. K Dawson, 15. A Bosenavulagi
C: 59. J Lipscombe, 46. D Tyson, 49. H Jones
HF: 75. C Weightman, 6. J Horne-Francis, 40. E Ford
F: 32. J Edwards, 50. H Dick, 61. M Mitchell-Russell
R: 66. Z Monkhorst, 33. P Walker, 54. K Answerth

I/C: 57. C Smith, 58. B Stevens, 64. W Doquile, 68. J Guthrie, 70. J Watkins
23rd player: 64. W Doquile

EMG: 48. H Murphy, 52. S Collins, 55. C Hinkley, 79. T Howard

IN: 6. J Horne-Francis, 15. A Bosenavulagi, 66. Z Monkhorst

OUT: 39. F Perez, 47. M Walker, 60. L Cunningham

North Melbourne has suffered a narrow defeat to Collingwood in the VFL, with the Kangaroos falling to the Magpies by 18 points in a gritty and physical contest.

Collingwood pulled out to a handy 19-point lead at quarter-time and the Kangaroos, while performing strongly in the final three quarters of the game, just couldn’t reel the opposition in.

After enduring some difficult results this season, the all-around competitive showing is a massive positive for the Kangaroos, who, had they converted more of their opportunities, could have been in with a strong chance of winning the game.

“We started really poorly in the first quarter and didn’t adapt to the conditions enough. We tried to do too much with the ball and it didn’t come off, but we did really well after quarter-time,” VFL senior coach Leigh Adams told North Media.

“We just weren’t able to capitalise when we had the momentum, and when we didn’t have the momentum we let some easy goals through.

“We got the ball forward much better, and our defenders set up really nicely behind the ball which let us get repeat entries. It was much better today, but we’re probably still a quarter away from pulling everything together.” 

MAGPIES v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Jason Horne-Francis played a starring role for the Kangaroos and led the way with an immense performance in midfield. He finished with 29 disposals, seven clearances and a goal despite close attention from his direct opponent over the course of the contest.

The clash acted as Horne-Francis’ first appearance at VFL-level, with the young gun forced to make his return from suspension through the reserves rather than enter straight back into the senior side.

His goal in the final term, a brilliant left-footed finish on the run, was just reward for a powerful display.

“Jason was good today, but what impressed me the most was his attitude. Obviously he would have liked to be playing senior footy but he wasn’t but he really bought into the way we want to play,” Adams said.

“He was a really good teammate today and he came back with a great attitude. He had a really good performance too which really helped us.”

With both sides struggling to hit the scoreboard during the clash, Max Mitchell-Russell’s pair of goals in the second term proved integral in North launching its attempted comeback while Eddie Ford was a strong contributor with two goals and a handful of massive marks over the course of the game.

Neither team managed to kick a goal in the third term, and while it was the Kangaroos’ defence that was under the most pressure for much of the term, the players in the backline stood up to keep North in with a chance of making a miraculous comeback.

Mid-season draftee Kallan Dawson was an impressive marking influence, while Marty Hore continued his good run of personal performances with another high-quality display.

“Our backline’s shape behind the ball was really good today, and Marty and Kal in particular were able to mark the footy really well,” Adams said.

“I thought Atu (Bosenavulagi) was really good after quarter-time as well, and the pressure on the ball allowed us to set up a lot better in the backline.

“Josh Goater was another one who performed well. He’s got such good athletic gifts that he can just beat his man in the one on one. He was back to his best this week and kicked a nice goal."

The Kangaroos continue their season next week against Richmond and will be hoping to take some momentum from this handy showing. 

COLLINGWOOD: 4.3 5.6 5.12 9.12
NORTH MELBOURNE: 1.0 4.3 4.5 7.6

AFL-listed

Atu Bosenavulagi: 16 disposals, eight marks
Kallan Dawson: 19 disposals, six marks, one tackle
Jacob Edwards: Five disposals, 23 hitouts, one clearance
Eddie Ford: Eight disposals, two goals, Five marks, three tackles
Josh Goater: 15 disposals, one goal, seven marks, three tackles
Kyron Hayden: 13 disposals, four marks
Jason Horne-Francis: 29 disposals, one goal, six marks, two tackles, seven clearances
Matt McGuinness: 10 disposals, three marks, two tackles
Pat Walker: 13 disposals, one mark

Best of VFL-listed

Harry Jones: 24 disposals, two marks, two tackles, four clearances
Marty Hore: 24 disposals, 10 marks
Dom Tyson: 26 disposals, eight marks, three tackles, five clearances
Max Mitchell-Russell: 10 disposals, two goals, three marks