North Melbourne has named a refreshed line-up for Saturday's VFLW season opener against Geelong at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.

Former Western Spur Kayla Peake and Northern Knights product Zara Flanigan will debut at the level, named respectively on the half-forward flank and in the ruck.

Marianna Anthony, Dalia Edward, Felicity Theodore and Annie Xanthos will also run out in blue and white for the first time.

Senior-listed players Taylah Gatt and Cassidy Mailer will feature on the wing and on the half-back flank, respectively.

It will be Mailer's first competitive appearance for the club since she was drafted with pick 54 in 2022, having overcome bone stress in her leg in the interim.

The first bounce is scheduled for 3pm at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.

You can live stream the match free via the AFL website, AFL Live Official App and VFL App.

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Saturday, March 25

Geelong v North Melbourne at Deakin University Waurn Ponds, 3pm AEDT

North Melbourne's VFLW side recorded a season-opening nine-point win over Geelong on Saturday afternoon, triumphing 4.5 (29) to 3.2 (20).

The Kangaroos had the advantage at every change at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds, and created the most significant buffer of the game when Felicity Theodore and Emily Paterno goaled in the back-end of the third quarter.

A Jess Mourney major in the final term was enough to hold off the home side, despite Charlotte Simpson converting a set shot down the other end with six minutes remaining in the match.

"Always coming into Round 1 you want to be successful, the girls have put in so much work over the last five months and to see all of it come to fruition was really pleasing," head coach Steph Binder told NMFC Media.

"Last season we lost to Geelong by a couple of goals and one of our key values this year is around growth, so to see that improvement and get that reward for effort was great."

Binder recognised that it was her sides willingness to impact the contest on the defensive end which helped open up the contest as the final change approached.

"I think we just started becoming more aggressive with our defensive pressure," she mentioned.

"As soon as we started coming forward to pressure, getting turnovers and then generating fast play from that, the game started heat up which plays to our strengths."

Former Essendon VFLW premiership player Marianna Anthony shone for the Roos and tallied eight tackles, four clearances and a game-high 22 disposals at the coalface as North Melbourne achieved its first win over the Cats in three seasons.

"'Mez' was brilliant, our whole midfield as a unit was amazing all day," Binder detailed.

"Geelong had a really dominant ruck but we were up on clearances and Mez was a big part of that, she just runs all day and is an absolute workhorse."

CATS V KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Binder's Round 1 side also included the AFLW-listed duo of Taylah Gatt and Cassidy Mailer, with the former playing her first game since November's preliminary final against Melbourne, and the latter featuring in a blue and white jumper for the first time.

Mailer was taken with the 54th pick of the 2022 AFLW draft but a bone stress issue completely derailed the 19-year-old's rookie season.

"Just seeing Cass play footy was really good, obviously she was struggling through injury through the AFLW season, so to see her out there was great," Binder said.

"She slotted into our backline and took some really important, strong marks deep in the last quarter when the game was on the line so that was really good.

"'Gatty' just fitted in seamlessly into our midfield, she had a really good game, provided plenty of run out on the wing and really brought the pressure as well."

Leading the charge in the forward line was Felicity Theodore in her first game for the club.

The small forward was able to slot North Melbourne's first of the day after reining in a grab close to goal, and she excited onlookers with a clever piece of play to kick her second during a pivotal moment of the game, much to the delight of Binder.

"'Flick' (Theodore) is an absolute ripper," Binder smiled.

"(She's) so exciting and explosive at ground level, she can just turn players inside out and break their ankles.

"She did one in an intraclub game where she just did her own little handball to herself and kicked a goal and I said to her before the game, 'Can you do one of those for me?' and she did in the third quarter, and at the break she came up to me and said, 'That one was for you!'"

Binder and her side will host Williamstown at Arden Street Oval next weekend, with bouncedown scheduled for 3pm AEDT on Saturday.

GEELONG      0.1    1.1    2.2    3.2    (20)
NORTH MELBOURNE     0.2    1.4    3.5    4.5    (29)

GOALS
Geelong: Simpson 2, De Groot
North Melbourne: Theodore 2, Paterno, Mourney

BEST
Geelong: Schaap, Scoullar, Simpson
North Melbourne: Anthony, Jones, Klaumanns-Moller, Theodore