After back-to-back losses, North Melbourne will be striving to return to the winners list when it challenges Brisbane in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday.

The Lions have found some form though, after taking down Collingwood by 33 points in Round 4.

The AFL's first ever Gather Round is nearing so make sure you’re prepared with this week’s gameday guide.

Set your matchday reminders

Saturday, April 15
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at Adelaide Hills, 12.40pm ACST (1.10pm AEST)

The Kangaroos face another stern test this weekend, with both themselves and Brisbane looking to claim a third win in season 2023.

So you don't miss the game, or any others this season, make sure to sync the fixture to you calendar.

Gather Round tickets

Tickets for our Gather Round game with the Lions in Mount Barker have been exhausted.

You can grab a seat at our next home fixture, however, when we take on the Saints at Marvel Stadium on May 7.

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.

>> Find the membership package that suits you here.

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Saturday's game will be broadcast live 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.
 
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Bring on the Festival of Footy! 

North Melbourne will venture to Mount Barker on Saturday for the inaugural Gather Round, with the hopes of causing an upset when it takes on a talented Brisbane outfit.

Despite going into this weekend as underdogs, Alastair Clarkson's side has shown so far this season that it can truly challenge strong oppositions, and given the somewhat inconsistent performances Brisbane has produced across 2023, North Melbourne will be ready to pounce.

The Roos will need to do it against the flow, however, with the club's last win over the Lions dating back to Round 20, 2018 at the Gabba.

Important inclusions

With Ben McKay and Griffin Logue available, the Kangaroos have been able to bolster their defensive stocks heading into Round 5.

Due to bone stress in his right foot, McKay has been unsighted since the pre-season hitout against the Bulldogs but will reclaim his post at full-back on Saturday, while Logue will slot straight back into defensive 50 after serving a one-match suspension.

Their absences last Friday meant the likes of Aidan Corr and Aiden Bonar were tasked with battling Carlton's twin tower forwards in Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow undersized, but now, for the first time this season, the Roos have a host of backline weapons.

Little wins

A costly 30-minute lapse during the Good Friday SuperClash saw the Kangaroos swiftly lose touch with the Blues, but it's not a factor that has caused concern regarding Clarkson's vision moving forward. 

While his side conceded seven answered goals in a stretch that spanned over most of the third term and into the final quarter, North Melbourne's senior coach was focused on the little wins.

"I was really pleased with the way we finished the game; we could’ve easily rolled over," Clarkson said post-game last Friday.

"I think we scored five goals in the second half of the last quarter which put some respectability into the scoreline, but it made it more of a reflection of what the game was like.

"They (Carlton) smashed us for about a 30-minute period … but we had more inside 50s, more scoring shots, (more) contested ball, (more) clearances so outside of the game itself which obviously we lost, we're having some little wins in other areas of the game and when you're on the journey we're on, they're the things you need to look for."

The improvement is clear, and it won't be long until Clarkson's emerging Roos start to convert their strength around the ground into winning scores.

Rising stars

A multitude of new names have been impressing across the competition this year, but none more so than draftees Harry Sheezel and Will Ashcroft.

Saturday will see the No.2 (Ashcroft) and No.3 (Sheezel) picks of the 2022 draft, and former Sandringham Dragons teammates, face off on an AFL field for the first time in their careers.

Despite being selected as a forward, Sheezel's disposal execution, general smarts and ability to read the play and has seen him flourish off half-back, under the guidance of experienced defenders like Luke McDonald and Jack Ziebell.

After collecting 34, 30 and 26 disposals in his first three weeks as an AFL footballer, his 37 touches against the Blues saw him take his season tally to 127 and subsequently claim the record for most disposals by any player after four career V/AFL games, further solidifying his credentials as one of the League's best young guns.

Up north, Ashcroft has also had an immediate impact at his new club. The son of three-time premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft has averaged 23 touches a game so far this season and played an important role in Brisbane's win over Melbourne in Round 2, finishing with 31 disposals, nine clearances and a goal.

While they may not line-up directly on each other on Saturday, the interest around which Rising Star takes box-seat for the 2023 award remains high.

Last time we met

It quickly become a rough night for North Melbourne last time it took on the Lions.

A seven-goal-to-two first quarter from Brisbane at the Gabba rapidly dashed any hopes the Roos had of returning to Victoria with four points, and the home side's dominance didn't relent as it finished the night with a 108-point advantage.

Jy Simpkin stood tall in midfield with 31 disposals, while Curtis Taylor had 23 touches, eight marks and a goal.

Joe Daniher was the star of the show in Mount Barker after impressing in Brisbane's 75-point win against North Melbourne on Saturday.

Following a terrific showing against Collingwood on Easter Thursday, Daniher took it up a few gears against the Kangaroos with five goals from 13 marks in a best afield performance.

After the Kangaroos hopped out to an early 18-point lead, the Lions controlled the second term with five successive goals and never looked back, running out 22.20 (152) to 12.5 (77) winners.

Lachie Neale (37 disposals and 13 clearances) was magnificent in a return to his home state, while Dayne Zorko (22, one goal and three assists), Eric Hipwood (four goals and two assists) and Charlie Cameron (four goals and two assists) also made strong contributions.

While North Melbourne's defence broke down repeatedly to allow Lions players to get out the back into open space, Daniher worked hard for his 18 disposals.

He kicked three goals in the match-shaping second term and could have finished with a bigger haul if he didn't spray a few after half-time.

North Melbourne to its credit worked hard in the final quarter.

The loss of influential midfielder Jy Simpkin to a hand injury in the second term – he had 12 touches at quarter-time – was unfortunate.

KANGAROOS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

You could have been mistaken for thinking the first quarter was played under the Marvel Stadium roof rather than the exposed elements of the AFL's newest venue, such was the frantic nature of the 10-goal term.

North Melbourne jumped out with four of the first five goals, working harder to contests and linking up by hand.

Harry Sheezel kicked his first career goal – a gem from 50m – while Jaidyn Stephenson made the most of his two disposals with two goals.

But the Lions began getting their hands on the ball around the contest and transitioning swiftly from one end of the ground to the other.

Hipwood was twice the beneficiary of end-to-end action that saw him get out of the back of the Kangaroos' defence, while Darcy Wilmot's brilliant snap ensured the scores were level at the first change.

Brisbane took complete control in the second, squeezing its opponent defensively and playing much of the quarter in its forward half to take a 23-point advantage to the main break.

Ashcroft v Sheezel

Although they didn't run around alongside each other, it was always going to be fascinating watching former Sandringham and Vic Metro teammates Will Ashcroft and Harry Sheezel duke it out on the same field. The two leading contenders for this year's AFL Rising Star Award – taken at No.2 and No.3 respectively in last year's draft – did not disappoint. Sheezel had a big influence early, but it wasn't just his ball use that impressed, twice dropping back into the space of Brisbane's leading forwards in the second term. Ashcroft's clean hands at ground level were instrumental in the Lions taking control. Sheezel finished with 31 disposals and Ashcroft 23.

BRISBANE                          5.1     10.6     17.13     22.20 (152)
NORTH MELBOURNE        5.1      7.1        9.2        12.5 (77)

GOALS 
Brisbane: Daniher 5, Hipwood 4, Cameron 4, Rayner 2, Berry 2, Zorko, Wilmot, McKenna, McCluggage, Fort
North Melbourne: Stephenson 4, Comben 2, Taylor, Shiels, Sheezel, Powell, Phillips, Larkey

BEST 
Brisbane: Daniher, Neale, Zorko, Dunkley, Hipwood, Andrews, Starcevich
North Melbourne: Sheezel, Howe, Comben, Stephenson, Powell 

INJURIES 
Brisbane: Nil
North Melbourne: Simpkin (hand)

SUBSTITUTES 
Brisbane: Jarryd Lyons (replaced Jarrod Berry at three quarter-time)
North Melbourne: Hugh Greenwood (replaced Jy Simpkin at half-time) 

Crowd: 7,329 at Mount Barker