The Kangaroos will be eager to bounce-back from their first defeat this season when they take on Carlton in the Good Friday SuperClash at Marvel Stadium.

Both clubs hold positions in the top eight heading into Round 4, but it's the Blues who are undefeated after picking up two wins and a draw across the opening three weeks.

With Good Friday edging closer, make sure you're prepared with this week's gameday guide.

Set your matchday reminders

Friday, April 7
North Melbourne v Carlton at Marvel Stadium, 4.20pm AEST

Back under the roof at Marvel Stadium, North Melbourne will welcome Carlton on a day that's bigger than footy.

So you don't miss it, or any other games this season, make sure to sync the fixture to you calendar.

What time do gates open?

Gates open at 2.30pm. When using your ticket, you can enter the ground via Gates 1, 3, or 7.

Our Membership Hub will be outside Gate 7 until the first siren if you require any assistance – you can still collect your membership scarf if you have not already and can quote your membership choice voucher to redeem.

Information regarding Marvel parking can be found here – the use of public transport is encouraged.

Roo Shop is locations are:
Outside Gate 4
Level 1, inside Gate 7
Level 2, inside Gate 6
Level 3, Aisle 30

>> For more details on your membership, head to our Member Hub.

What's on

Pre-game:

Super Scavenger hunt
On the concourse find the QR code and SCAN for your chance to WIN!
You could win, Puma discounts, seat upgrades, free chips, and more!

Super Hero and Sidekick entries
Watch your favourite players arrive at the stadium and vote for the best player entry.

Quarter-time:

Puma ‘Super Fast’ Activation

Half-time:

Legends Kick for Kids
Brent Harvey v Marc Murphy

Three-quarter time:

Beat the BT-50
Sprint race

Gameday hub

This is your one-stop shop for all gameday activities. There are competitions, games, activations, raffles and more to keep you busy until the game starts.

>> Check it out NOW

Be a part of history as we target beyond 50k members in 2023

The Kangaroos' journey continues in 2023, and we're looking to surpass last year's club record 50,000 members as Alastair Clarkson's team continues its path towards silverware.

Joining up as a member is a great way to support not only the AFL team, but the entire football club.

>> Want to join the team? Find the membership package that suits you here.

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and for Foxtel and Kayo Sports subscribers.

Stay connected on social media

For behind-the-scenes access and all the best highlights, photos, stats and stories, we’ve got you covered.
 
Follow the @NMFCOfficial accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with everything happening at the match and don't forget to use #Kangas.
 
Bring on the SuperClash! 

A massive SuperClash crowd awaits North Melbourne and Carlton on Good Friday, with the home team returning to its home deck for the first time since Round 1.

The Roos will enter with a 2-1 record after suffering their first defeat of 2023 last weekend, and will need to be at their best in order to overcome an undefeated Blues outfit and claim a third victory.

Despite Carlton's strengths, it's a task Alastair Clarkson's side has the capability of doing as it continues to mould into its newly adopted gameplan.

Bouncing back

On Friday, North Melbourne will have its first opportunity to respond to a defeat this season, after going down in disappointing fashion to Hawthorn in Launceston.

There may have been a touch of fatigue though after claiming a dramatic victory out west in Round 2, but the 19-point loss to the Hawks could perhaps be put down as a growing pain with the team being just three weeks into its new beginning.

"We've just got a process that we need to concentrate on in terms of getting better as a footy club," Clarkson said post-game last Saturday.

"We've got a long way to go and part of that is just giving all our players the exposure to just play our gameplan the way we want to play it, and whether we win or lose, just getting better at that over time.

"That's not going to happen overnight but it will happen if we stay the course and and continue to have faith that we're on the right track."

Midfield addition(s)

Set for a battle with a talented Carlton midfield, North Melbourne will greatly welcome the returns of  Jy Simpkin and, potentially, Luke Davies Uniacke to the line-up.

After being soundly defeated at the source in Tasmania, the pairing's inclusion could be a pivotal factor to how Friday's game plays out given the talent and leadership the duo possesses.

Both kicked crucial goals in the Round 2 win over Fremantle and each had over 600 metres gained surging out of centre, further proving just how crucial they are on gameday.

While Simpkin is a selection lock after serving his one-match suspension, it was a calf tightness issue that saw Davies-Uniacke withdrawn late right before the Round 3 bounce.

He's tracking positively though, and given he pulls up well from Thursday's training session, he'll join his co-captain in the side.

Combating Carlton's forwards

Just as it did in 2022, North Melbourne will square off with an imposing Carlton forward line without its two primary key defenders.

The versatile Griffin Logue was officially ruled out on Tuesday night after his appeal to overturn a one-match ban failed, leaving him to join Ben McKay on the sidelines who continues to recover from bone stress in his foot.

After a strong start to the year, Aidan Corr will be tasked with covering either Harry McKay or Charlie Curnow, while Logue's impending replacement will be trusted to take the other Blues spearhead.

Clarkson and the match committee are likely to choose either Kallan Dawson or Aiden Bonar to accompany Corr in defensive 50, after both put in promising shifts during last weekend's VFL win that saw the Roos hold Southport to just 58 points.

Last time we met

The Roos suffered a 50-point defeat when they last faced the Blues, despite a strong first half that saw them trail by eight points heading into the main change.

Leading the way in midfield was Simpkin with 22 disposals, while fellow Bailey Scott gathered 23 touches and six marks.

Down forward, Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar combined for five majors, and Todd Goldstein worked hard in the ruck, finishing with 36 hitouts and 18 disposals.

Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay have booted 10 goals between them to haul Carlton to a 23-point win over North Melbourne in the annual Good Friday SuperClash.

Curnow booted six goals while McKay kicked four and had 14 marks against North Melbourne's undersized defence as Carlton overcame an unconvincing first half to kick away for a 16.11 (107) to 11.18 (84) win.

Carlton's victory came in front of a bumper crowd of 49,062 at Marvel Stadium, beating the previous Good Friday high of 48,278 in 2019.

The Kangaroos stuck with the Blues until midway through the third quarter, despite being without Griffin Logue (suspension) and Ben McKay (foot), with Curnow and McKay monstering a defence led by Aidan Corr and Aiden Bonar.

North spearhead Nick Larkey hurt his hip in a first-quarter collision with Jacob Weitering and was hampered throughout.

Carlton's Mitch McGovern (27 disposals, six marks) was excellent down back despite requiring early treatment on his right thigh but was substituted out late.

KANGAROOS v BLUES Full match coverage and stats

Zac Fisher (28 disposals, five clearances) was consistent all game while skipper Patrick Cripps (29 touches, nine clearances) lifted in the second half.

In their respective returns from a calf injury and suspension, Kangaroos duo Luke Davies-Uniacke (30 touches) and Jy Simpkin (29 disposals) dominated around clearances.

First-year gun Harry Sheezel (37 disposals) continued his fine form while Cam Zurhaar and Jaidyn Stephenson booted three goals apiece.

Coach Alastair Clarkson also pulled a surprise when he substituted veteran ball-winner Ben Cunnington for Hugh Greenwood late in the third quarter

The Kangaroos got on top around the contest early and led by a goal at quarter-time.

Carlton was conservative with the ball and plagued by skill errors and fumbles throughout the second term.

But the Kangaroos were wasteful around goal and took just a two-point lead into half-time.

Zurhaar steered a brilliant snap through on his left foot at the start of the second half but from there, Carlton lifted its intensity and booted the next six goals, including a masterful long-range shot from Jesse Motlop put the Blues in front.

They extended their lead to nine points after Cunnington was penalised for holding the ball, with Corey Durdin dobbing his set shot.

For the sixth, Tom De Koning received a contentious 50m penalty from Jack Ziebell to help Carlton to a 25-point lead at the final change.

From there, the Blues threatened to kick away before North reeled them in to keep the scoreline respectable.

McKay will likely be scrutinised for a high, late hit on Sheezel that could attract a fine.

A Good Friday for footy

North’s resurgence under Alastair Clarkson as well as the Blues’ hot start to the season had fans turning out in droves, with more than 49,000 supporters packing into Marvel Stadium. General public tickets for the match sold out during the week and ended up being the biggest Good Friday crowd ever, a fitting audience for a rollicking display of football between two sides with plenty to prove. Played in support of the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the two teams ran out onto the field and through a banner together, symbolising the shared support for the cause.

NORTH MELBOURNE        3.4     5.8     6.12    11.18 (84)
CARLTON                           2.4     5.6     11.7    16.11 (107)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 3, Stephenson 3, Taylor, Phillips, Powell, Simpkin, Curtis
Carlton: Curnow 6, McKay 4, Motlop 2, Durdin, De Koning, Silvagni, Honey

BEST 
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Zurhaar
Carlton: Curnow, McKay, Cripps, Young, McGovern

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Larkey (hip)
Carlton: McGovern (thigh)

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Miller Bergman replaced in selected side by Daniel Howe
Carlton: None

SUBSTITUTES 
North Melbourne: Hugh Greenwood replaced Ben Cunnington in the third quarter
Carlton: Jack Carroll replaced Mitch McGovern in the fourth quarter

Crowd: 49,062 at Marvel Stadium