North Melbourne defender Jackson Archer will return to the field this Sunday for his first game at any level since April 23.

The 20-year-old has been dealing with a groin issue over the past month but will be slotted into the backline for the clash with Collingwood.

After progressing through the AFL's mandatory 12-day concussion protocol, Flynn Perez and Lachie Young have both been named along with tall defender Aidan Corr, while Darcy Tucker has been ticked off to play after a hamstring issue kept him sidelined last weekend.

VFL-listed duo Cooper Keogh and Alex Noblett have also been selected, with the latter to serve as the 23rd player.

Onballer Charlie Lazzaro will make way after being elevated into the senior team, while Aiden Bonar (knee) and Hamish Free (shoulder) are outs due to injury.

Cooper Smith has been omitted, as has Nick Stevens, Bode Stevens and Jack Ellwod but that trio will head into Sunday as emergencies.

AFL-listed players named in the side include Kallan Dawson, Curtis Taylor, Tarryn Thomas, Jacob Edwards, Kayne Turner, Cooper Harvey, Ben Cunnington, Corr, Perez, Archer, Young and Tucker

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.

Sunday, May 28

Collingwood v North Melbourne at the AIA Centre, 11.05am AEST

North Melbourne's VFL side was undeniable at the AIA Centre on Sunday, overcoming Collingwood in trying conditions by 39 points.

The Roos led at every change en route to their fifth win of the year, with small forward Kayne Turner booting four goals along the way.

In his return from a hamstring injury, versatile midfielder Darcy Tucker finished with a team-high 31 disposals and five tackles.

"I'm really pleased he was able to get through today and contribute really strongly towards the result," VFL coach Tom Lynch told NMFC Media.

"He's obviously had an interrupted start to his time with us, but hopefully he can build from his performance today and get back into the AFL side soon."

MAGPIES v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

On a soaked deck with rain sprinkling down, Turner opened the game's scoring with a soccer off the ground seven minutes into the opening quarter before Aiden Begg responded soon after for the opposition.

North Melbourne stayed the more threatening in the following term though after tallying seven shots to two in the first quarter, and with goals to Turner, Jack Watkins (22 disposals, four clearances, one goal), and Jamie Hope (10 disposals, two goals), the Roos managed to extend their lead.

After taking an 11-point advantage into the main change, Tom Lynch's side went up another gear in the third quarter, kicking 3.2 to Collingwood's four behinds to create a healthy buffer with a quarter to play.

VFL-listed key position duo Tyler Sellers and Ben Bath made their presences felt down forward for the Roos, kicking two goals and one respectively while consistently competing with intent in the air.

The visitors continued to put the Pies to the sword in the final term, and eventually ran out comfortable 5.13 (43) to 11.16 (82) victors to jump into the ladder's top eight.

"I'm super pumped for the players ... they put a real four-quarter performance in today in slippery conditions," Lynch mentioned.

"Just our ability to take territory and play a real team game was the most impressive thing today because it wasn't a day where we could flick it around ... I just loved the way they all went about it."

After relatively quiet opening halves from Ben Cunnington (16 disposals, six clearances) and Tarryn Thomas (18, six), the midfield pairing was difficult to contain in the second half as they helped the Roos surge forward from centre bounces and stoppages. 

Winger Connor Downie impressed with 22 disposals and a goal, while defenders Aidan Corr, Flynn Perez and Ben Davis all put in strong shifts behind the ball.

Curtis Taylor was having a significant influence on proceedings up until a foot injury in the second quarter saw the utility sidelined for the rest of the day.

"Curtis' first half was outstanding, he was first to move, he was really clean with the footy and made some really smart decisions, so it was disappointing that he wasn't able to finish the game," Lynch said.

"I think he's going to be OK, but we just went down the no-risk policy path with five on the bench."

Jackson Archer, in his return from a groin issue, was on a limited load and took no further part after half-time, but was involved early with several impactful defensive efforts.

COLLINGWOOD             1.1    3.5    3.9    5.13  (43)     
NORTH MELBOURNE     1.6    4.10    7.12    11.16  (82)     

GOALS
Collingwood: Begg 2, Wilson, Kreuger, Carmichael
North Melbourne: Turner 4, Sellers 2, Hope 2, Watkins, Downie, Bath

BEST  
Collingwood: Bianco, Macrae, Carmichael, Allan
North Melbourne: Turner, Corr, Perez, Hope, Davis, Sellers, Downie

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Taylor (foot)