North Melbourne will look to even up the season series against Essendon when the clubs meet on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.

In Alastair Clarkson's return to the coaches' box, the Roos started strongly last weekend but were overrun by a strong Melbourne outfit, while the Dons survived a close call against the Eagles to triumph by a point.

Here's everything you need to know for the match in this week's gameday guide.

Set your matchday reminders

Saturday, August 12
North Melbourne v Essendon at Marvel Stadium, 1.45pm AEST

The Bombers got the better of the Kangas by just a goal back in Round 12, with the latter putting in one of their better performances for the season, led by young midfielder Will Phillips.

This weekend, North Melbourne will have the opportunity to snap its 18-game losing streak and its nine-game skid against its bitter rivals in Ben Cunnington's final AFL match.

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

Member Appreciation Round

Here is everything happening at the game this weekend as we celebrate the unwavering support and loyalty of our members:

Lucky door prize

Scan in with your mobile membership for your chance to WIN one of two double passes to the Syd Barker Club Champion Dinner - our night of nights.

Roo Shop discount

Get 30 per cent off at the Roo Shop on gameday, with our interstate members able to redeem online.

Bay prize

Make sure you’re in your seat and your entire bay could WIN a tour of Arden Street.

Free popcorn and fairy floss

Head over to Gate 7 and grab these treats pre-game to enjoy throughout the game. Be quick - first in, first served!

AFL inflatables

Head over to Gate 7 pre-game and have some fun with the AFL inflatables.

Post-game function

Join us for an exclusive member-only function in the Victory Room on level one after the game to celebrate our members, Ben Cunnington's retirement, Jack Ziebell's last Melbourne home game and Todd Goldstein's 300th from earlier in the year. The whole club will be in attendance and there will be limited capacity so it will be first in, best dressed. 

Ticketing

Tickets are still available for the Round 22 clash with the Bombers.

Getting to Marvel Stadium

Transport information getting to and from the Marvel can be found here.

Single lane closure on Wurundjeri Way - allow for extra travel time: Wurundjeri Way has single lane closures between Dudley Street and Collins Street, northbound and southbound, until late October 2023 due to works carried out by the West Gate Tunnel Project.

Car park entrances C, D & E along Wurundjeri Way will remain open and will be available during this period.

Seat Access

Social Club and Premiership Club members: when using your ticket, you can enter the ground via Gates 1, 3, or 7.

General Admission members and ticket holders can enter via any gate.

Gates open at 12pm.

Roo Shop
To make sure you're decked out in Royal Blue and White, you can find the shop located:
Outside Gate 4
Level 1, inside Gate 7
Level 2, inside Gate 6

Membership Hub

For any membership enquiries or to pick up your member choice item, our friendly staff will be located outside Gate 2.

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 the 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.

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Saturday's game will be broadcast live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

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 Bombers!

The Roos return to Marvel Stadium on Saturday to welcome a September-hopeful Bombers outfit in what will be an emotional send off for one of North Melbourne's greatest ever players, Ben Cunnington.

Cunnington announced he would be hanging up the boots earlier in the week, with Round 22 serving as his last in the AFL.

He returns to Alastair Clarkson's side which will be eager to build on the exciting first term it produced in Hobart last weekend, when it led an in-form Demons line-up by 26 points at quarter-time.

The opposition

The Bombers managed to escape their Round 21 clash with the 18th-placed Eagles with a hard-fought one-point victory, despite trailing with just 90 seconds remaining on the clock.

The last-gasp win keeps their finals hopes alive with three games left in the season, but in 12th with a record of 10-10, their work is cut out for them considering how tight the race for a finals spot is.

Last Saturday's hero, Kyle Langford, has proven to be a dangerous and dynamic forward for Essendon in 2023 and currently sits equal seventh on the goalkicking leaderboard with 45 following a second five-goal haul in as many weeks.

Captain Zach Merrett is also having a stellar campaign in midfield and poses as a challenge for North Melbourne's midfield given his ability to create and use the ball effectively going forward. The No.7 is averaging 28.9 touches per game and will be supported by Darcy Parish who ranks third in the League for clearances per game (7.9).

The magnets

Young onballer George Wardlaw is a chance to return for his first senior game since straining his hamstring against the Hawks in Round 18. He'll face a fitness test later in the week, as will Tom Powell after being troubled by his ITB in the VFL last weekend.

Dan Howe (25 disposals, four goals) and Hugh Greenwood (24 disposals, 12 tackles, nine clearances) both impressed in the reserves despite the defeat and have pressed claims for recalls.

What the coaches have said

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson post-game v Melbourne: "We were pleased that we were in the contest this time around (against Melbourne), but the good sides can just do it for longer at the present time. But we're learning, we played a really good side today and for 40 minutes we really troubled them so that was pleasing, we just need to find ways to do it for longer."

Essendon coach Brad Scott on Wednesday: "North was terrific (in the first half against Melbourne). There's no doubt that we're going to have to be at our best to get the job done and everyone's clear on that. It's not only North's performance against Melbourne, its Hawthorn's performance against Collingwood, it was Fremantle's performance against Brisbane … coaches say a lot that it's an even competition and it takes a round like that for everyone to think 'yeah, it is'."

Last time we met

Essendon 16.9 (105) def North Melbourne 15.9 (99), Round 12, 2023 at Marvel Stadium

Looking to build on its solid finish to Round 11 against Collingwood, North Melbourne began its clash with Essendon in Round 12 on the back foot, conceding four of the game's first five goals.

Showing resilience, the Roos fired back in what quickly became a see-sawing affair, despite losing both Jy Simpkin and Hugh Greenwood to concussion.

Six consecutive goals saw North Melbourne snatch a 17-point lead during the third quarter but four goals to Kyle Langford and one from Massimo D'Ambrosio, which was ultimately the sealer, saw the Bombers claim a six-point victory.

Will Phillips played one of his best games in blue and white so far to finish with 27 disposals, eight clearances and a goal, while Cam Zurhaar booted four majors of his own.

Essendon has denied North Melbourne great Ben Cunnington a fairytale farewell, with the Bombers surviving another major scare to hang on by nine points.

For the second Saturday in a row at Marvel Stadium, Essendon was made to work hard following last week's one-point escape over West Coast.

In a tight and tense game where neither team led by more than 15 points, the Bombers prevailed 13.8 (86) to 12.5 (77) to keep their finals hopes alive ahead of the last two rounds of the home and away season.

North cut the lead to three points with three minutes remaining but Archie Perkins calmly slotted the matchwinner from 25 metres out for Essendon with 50 seconds to go.

The Bombers (11-10) will need to defeat Greater Western Sydney (away) and Collingwood (MCG) in the next fortnight to book a top-eight place.

Cunnington, a cancer survivor, was on limited game time but provided an unforgettable moment for long-suffering North supporters when he booted the second goal of his 238th and final AFL match.

KANGAROOS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

The 32-year-old was mobbed by every single one of his Kangaroos teammates after slotting the 97th goal of his career when he gathered and kicked truly from 40m out in the first quarter.

Cunnington (24 disposals, 10 clearances) stepped up again in the final quarter, snapping his second goal to reduce Essendon's lead to nine points.

Nick Larkey (five goals), Harry Sheezel (32 disposals) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (28 and a goal) tried to will North over the line for Cunnington, but Essendon had too much class with its season at stake.

Hard-running Bomber Nic Martin (three goals, 32 disposals) was clearly best on ground, while Kyle Langford continued his career-best season with an important three-goal performance.

Cunnington delivers special moment
Playing his final AFL game after announcing his retirement earlier this week, Ben Cunnington needed just minutes to deliver for North fans. The midfielder kicked a wonderful farewell goal, before the Roos supporters also gave him an ovation at the 10-minute mark of the first quarter. Cunnington, who finished with 24 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals, also snapped a late major to give the Roos hope.

Taylor gets big job
Zach Merrett has dominated the Kangaroos in recent seasons and North gave Curtis Taylor the job of tagging the Bombers captain on Saturday. Taylor started at half-forward before getting to Merrett and he did a fine job, holding the Don to 21 disposals. Merrett had five clearances and also laid nine tackles.

NORTH MELBOURNE          3.0     6.1      9.3      12.5 (77)
ESSENDON                           2.1     5.2     10.4     13.8 (86)

GOALS 
North Melbourne: Larkey 5, Stephenson 2, Cunnington 2, Simpkin, Ford, Davies-Uniacke
Essendon: Martin 3, Langford 3, Wright 2, Menzie 2, Tsatas, Perkins, Guelfi 

BEST 
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Larkey, Cunnington, Thomas, Sheezel
Essendon: Martin, Parish, Langford, Tsatas, Redman, Hobbs 

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Simpkin (arm)
Essendon: Nil 

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Nil
Essendon: Snelling replaced in selected side by Baldwin 

SUBSTITUTES 
North Melbourne: Lazzaro (replaced Archer at three-quarter time)
Essendon: Snelling (replaced Bryan in fourth quarter) 

Crowd: 37,231 at Marvel Stadium