Having been replaced by Hugh Greenwood in the senior side on Thursday night, veteran Ben Cunnington will front up for North Melbourne's VFL team as one of six inclusions heading into Round 8 against Frankston.

The onballer's most recent appearance in the reserves came towards the end of last season when he made his long-awaited and emotional return to football after a second bout with testicular cancer.

Joining him in the side is fellow experienced Kangaroo Kayne Turner who will also make his season debut in the VFL.

Ruck-forward Callum Coleman-Jones and defender Josh Goater have both been named after each spent a stint on the sidelines due to concussion and a hamstring strain, respectively. Goater hasn't featured at either level since leaving the field against the VFL Suns in Round 5 clutching at his right hamstring, while Coleman-Jones earned an AFL call-up for Round 7 against Melbourne but a subsequent head knock saw him miss out last week.

Charlie Lazzaro returns to the VFL after being used as the tactical sub against St Kilda last Sunday, while former Adelaide Crow Ben Davis will play his first official game as a Kangaroo.

Young forwards Eddie Ford and Phoenix Spicer have moved up into the senior squad with Greenwood following their standout performances against the Zebras.

An extra week off has draftee George Wardlaw primed after he was a late withdrawal last week due to knee soreness.

Aiden Bonar will miss due to a quad injury while VFL-listed Jack Ellwood been omitted but will serve as an emergency alongside Nick Stevens.

Defender Lachie Young will also miss Saturday's game due to illness, with Nick Hodgson being elevated into the starting team from the emergencies.

AFL-listed players named in the side include Kallan Dawson, Hamish Free, Jacob Edwards, Dan Howe, Will Phillips, Tarryn Thomas, Wardlaw, Aaron Hall, Lazzaro, Goater, Turner, Coleman-Jones and Cunnington.

You can live stream the match via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

Follow the @NMFCReserves accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay across everything happening at the match, and don't forget to use #Kangas.

The Roo Shop at Arden Street will also be open from 10.30am to 3pm.

Saturday, May 13

North Melbourne v Frankston at Arden Street Oval, 1.05pm AEST

Callum Coleman-Jones has fired North Melbourne's VFL side to a 75-point victory over Frankston at Arden Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The tall forward was simply unstoppable, booting nine majors and gathering 22 disposals, 12 marks and 12 hitouts in the one-sided contest that went the home side's way 20.11 (131) to 9.2 (56).

He did most of his damage after main change, kicking four goals in the third term while making the most of North Melbourne's fluent ball movement and ability to find targets heading forward.

"He (Coleman-Jones) was lively from the get-go," VFL coach Tom Lynch told NMFC Media.

"He's kicked nine goals, but he's had 22 touches as well which is great for a big guy ... he was really active and he was unselfish, too. 

"He had some opportunities as well where he brought his teammates into the game, as all of our forwards did today."

KANGAROOS v DOLPHINS Full match coverage and stats

The Roos shot out to a healthy five-goal lead in the first term - managing to hold the Dolphins scoreless in the process – and didn’t look back from then onwards, going onto dominate the inside-50 count 68-29.

Frankston didn't breakthrough on the scoreboard until it pinched a goal at the 18th-minute mark of the second quarter, and despite adding another three before half-time, it failed to close the gap the Roos had diligently created.

"I couldn’t be happier for the players," Lynch stated.

"We had a really experienced group in today, particularly through our midfield … but the way we played, especially off the back of our first quarter where we had nine shots on goal and were defensively sound, was really pleasing."

Ben Cunnington, who was omitted from the senior side prior to this weekend, used his trademark physicality and smarts throughout the day to respond with 24 touches and seven clearances.

"His attitude was what you'd expect … he had a really good last quarter, and he was great for guys like George Wardlaw, Will Phillips and those other younger guys playing through the middle of the ground," Lynch mentioned.

"They certainly walked a lot taller having Ben out there, but they were able to learn off him as well, same goes with our young rucks like Hamish Free and Jacob Edwards.

"(Cunnington's) experience is invaluable and I'm thankful for how he went about things today."

Supporting Cunnington in midfield was Wardlaw and Dan Howe who both impressed for the Kangaroos.

Playing for the first time since Round 5, Wardlaw tallied 19 disposals and five tackles but managed to have an impact pushing forward, adding two majors to his stat line.

Continuing his fine form, Howe amassed 28 touches and nine marks, while rebounding defender Aaron Hall topped all comers with 30 disposals.

In his second VFL game of the campaign, Tarryn Thomas found the ball 27 times and slotted a set shot in the final minutes of the third quarter.

A knock to the knee in the opening term saw young defender Josh Goater play no further part in the contest after quarter-time.

"Based on the fact we play with five on the bench, it's a no-risk policy (when it comes to those injuries)," Lynch revealed.

"Hopefully in the next coming days he gets some good news and is good to go next weekend."

NORTH MELBOURNE     5.4    9.7     15.9    20.11  (131)     
FRANKSTON                 0.0    4.0    6.1    9.2  (56)     

GOALS
North Melbourne: Coleman-Jones 9, Watkins 2, Wardlaw 2, Lowson 2, Bath 2, Turner, Thomas, Edwards
Frankston: Stern 3, Marotta 2, Johnson 2, Lambert, Butland

BEST  
North Melbourne: Coleman-Jones, Thomas, Wardlaw, Howe, Watkins, Hall
Frankston: Fordham, Stern, Stoddart

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Goater (knee)