High on confidence, North Melbourne will be looking forward to another challenge after an impressive performance against Richmond last week.

Jy Simpkin, Ben Cunnington and Todd Goldstein headline the inclusions for Saturday's practice match against the Western Bulldogs at Ikon Park, with the trio set to face non-club opposition for the first time this season.

The pairing of Simpkin and Cunnington will step into the midfield and join Luke Davies-Uniacke and Will Phillips who both shone in the engine room during last Friday's match simulation.

With Tristan Xerri named and Callum Coleman-Jones on the extended interchange, Goldstein could see a varied mix of minutes in a rucking and key forward capacity as he looks to gain some momentum ahead of the 2023 season.

Exciting draftee Harry Sheezel will pull on the blue and white stripes again after booting three goals against the Tigers. He'll start in a forward pocket, flanked by fellow emerging Roos Paul Curtis and Tom Powell.

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Saturday will also be the first time Simpkin and Luke McDonald share the captaincy role on-field during an offical contest too, after the club announced that that pair would be co-captains back in January.

Bouncedown for Saturday's match is at 1.10pm AEDT, with the game to be broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo Sports. Entry is free and non-ticketed.

North Melbourne's VFL side will follow the seniors at Ikon Park with its practice match against the Footscray Bulldogs scheduled for 4pm.

Saturday, March 4

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne at Ikon Park, 1.10pm

B: J.Ziebell 7 B.McKay 23 F.Perez 39
HB: L.McDonald 11 (C) A.Bonar 16 J.Goater 31
C: B.Scott 8 J.Simpkin 12 (C) K.Turner 28
HF: T.Powell 24 C.Comben 30 P.Curtis 25
F: C.Zurhaar 44 N.Larkey 20 H.Sheezel 3
Foll: T.Goldstein 22 B.Cunnington 10 W.Phillips 29
I/C: G.Logue 19 L.Davies-Uniacke 9 L.Shiels 14 T.Xerri 38 J.Stephenson 2 M.Bergman 27 C.Coleman-Jones 21 H.Greenwood 18

Emerg: K.Dawson 42 E.Ford 40 C.Lazzaro 35 L.Young 17

North Melbourne has gone down to the Western Bulldogs by 58 points in their practice match at Ikon Park on Saturday.

Key forward quartet Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Sam Darcy and Rory Lobb all played in the same potent Dogs attack as Luke Beveridge's outfit completely overpowered North in its final tune-up ahead of round one.

Naughton kicked four goals, Ugle-Hagan added three, Darcy chipped in with two, while Lobb kicked one in a thoroughly convincing 22.11 (143) to 13.7 (85) victory.

Tim English and Marcus Bontempelli also drifted forward on occasions, adding yet more firepower, to take utmost advantage of the midfield dominance led by both Tom Liberatore (33 disposals, two goals) and Bailey Smith (30 disposals, five clearances).

The only slight concern for Beveridge ahead of the team's round one encounter with Melbourne in 14 days' time will be a neck injured suffered by Taylor Duryea, which forced him to leave for scans, and a corked quad to Ed Richards.

BULLDOGS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

North Melbourne had enjoyed a competitive start and was able to muster some early attacking cut-through, with key forward Nick Larkey booting three goals for the match.

The experienced duo of Jy Simpkin (31 disposals, one goal) and Ben Cunnington (27 disposals, nine clearances) were the standout performers for the Kangaroos, while top-three draft selection Harry Sheezel also flashed his talent at either end of the field.

The Western Bulldogs will face Melbourne in their season-opener in the MCG's first Saturday night match of the new campaign, while North Melbourne is due to host West Coast at Marvel Stadium in round one.

New faces
Liam Jones was one of the game's most notable performers, taking a series of strong intercept marks and looking assured as the Dogs' best defender. Rory Lobb combined stints both forward and through the ruck to good effect, while ex-Melbourne recruit Oskar Baker looks a lock for round one after another promising summer display on the wing. Harry Sheezel continued to impress for the Kangaroos and should play round one after a lively game in the forward line, before drifting behind the ball in the last term. Griffin Logue is everything the club thought he would be as the side's primary key defensive option, while ex-Hawthorn veteran Liam Shiels was quiet but should still play in round one to add some experience to a wing.

Round one chance
There's excitement around what small forward Arthur Jones can produce for the Dogs early in the season. He looked good again on Saturday, kicking two nice goals to stake his claim for a potential round one debut. Kangaroos key forward Charlie Comben started the game alongside Nick Larkey in attack. Although was a tough day for the youngster, who was held goalless, he remains firmly in contention to play round one.

Medical room
Taylor Duryea was sent for precautionary scans after copping a knock to his neck in the opening term, while Ed Richards sat out the majority of the match with a corked quad. The Dogs are hopeful that both Cody Weightman (adductor) and Jason Johannisen (calf) will be fit for round one, despite missing Saturday's clash, but Tim O'Brien (hamstring) is facing an uphill battle after an interrupted summer. Laitham Vandermeer (leg), Ryan Gardner (elbow) and Roarke Smith (foot) will all be absent for the opening rounds of the season. For the Kangaroos, there must now be doubts as to whether Aidan Corr (calf), Curtis Taylor (calf) and Aaron Hall (Achilles) can prove their fitness for round one after missing again. Darcy Tucker (knee) is also unlikely, while first-round pick George Wardlaw (conditioning) is still building up his training loads. The Roos took no risks with Cam Zurhaar, whose day finished early due to calf tightness.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     5.4     13.6     19.9     22.11 (143)
NORTH MELBOURNE     4.1     7.4     8.4     13.7 (85) 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Scott 3, Ugle-Hagan 3, Liberatore 2, Darcy 2, A.Jones 2, Bontempelli 2, Baker, Treloar, Lobb, West
North Melbourne: Larkey 3, Powell 2, Simpkin, Davies-Uniacke, Curtis, Sheezel, Goldstein, Goater, Stephenson, Turner

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Naughton, Jones, Ugle-Hagan, Smith, Macrae
North Melbourne: Simpkin, Cunnington, Sheezel, Powell

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Duryea (neck), Richards (corked quad)
North Melbourne: Zurhaar (calf tightness)