Brayden George and Kallan Dawson will make their playing returns as North Melbourne's VFL side travels to Werribee on Sunday. 

George and Dawson are the only inclusions for the reserves following last weekend's defeat by Essendon at Windy Hill. 

A highly-rated defender, George is yet to make his AFL debut for North Melbourne after an unlucky run with injuries in his two seasons to date at the club.

He missed the 2023 season after tearing an ACL in his draft year, before dislocating his elbow in a freak gym accident in October last year. He then suffered a dislocated shoulder in the VFL side's Round 5 match against Greater Western Sydney. 

Key defender Dawson returns after suffering ankle ligament damage in a training session last month. He played the first four AFL games this season

Defenders Bode Stevens and Hamish Murphy are the two players to make way this week. 

How to follow the game

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

Follow the @NMFCReserves accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook to keep up with our results and best performers, and don't forget to use #Kangas.

Round 9

Sunday, May 26
Werribee v North Melbourne at Avalon Airport Oval, 12pm AEST

North Melbourne's losing streak has been extended to six games after going down to Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval, 13.21 (99) to 4.6 (30).

While the initial minutes of the first quarter were tightly contested, it was the home side who broke away with a three-goal-to-zero opening term to lay the foundation for what played out to be a commanding 69-point win.

The Kangas struggled to combat a switched-on Werribee around the ground, going down by 21 in the inside-50 count and 95 in the disposal tally.

The Tigers mounted the pressure on the Roos early after snagging their first through Jack Henderson, forcing turnovers and registering repeat inside 50s to continuously put the visitors on the back foot.

Despite peppering away in the second term with six straight behinds, the Tigers managed to extend their advantage to 31 points at the main change, holding the Kangas to a solitary major which came right on the half-time siren.

TIGERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

It was youngster Kade De La Rue who followed the play well before spotting up Dylan Stephens (19 disposals, five marks) who converted his set shot to give his side some hope with a half to play.

An extended break looked to have done wonders for the Roos as Hamish Free and Jack Watkins burst out of the opening third-quarter centre bounce to find Sam Lowson for the first of his two goals for the game.

Werribee's Jay Dahlhaus answered but North Melbourne hit back promptly thanks to a neat crumb and finish from Blake Drury following a deep inside-50 ball by Will Phillips. 

Phillips finished as one of the Roos' best afield for the afternoon, amassing a team-high 26 disposals in the midfield to go along with his eight tackles and six clearances.

Lowson and Watkins connected later in the term for the former's second, but two late majors to Jack Riding meant the chances of a comeback were little to none as the Tigers struck up a 54-point buffer with one quarter to go.

The Kangas went goalless in the final term, but defender Riley Hardeman continued to produce off half-back as he had done for the majority of the afternoon.

He notched 22 disposals, 10 marks, and eight rebound 50s and provided lots of run-and-carry in one of his best performances in the royal blue and white stripes so far.

Brayden George (13 disposals) and Kallan Dawson (11 disposals, five intercepts) both made it through the game unscathed after returning from shoulder and ankle injuries respectively.

George was swung forward for the fourth quarter as North Melbourne looked to find a spark, with high-flyer Finnbar Maley sent into a key back position.

WERRIBEE TIGERS      3.5    5.11    11.16    13.21  (99)     
NORTH MELBOURNE    0.2    1.4    4.4    4.6  (30)     

GOALS  
Werribee: Garoni 3, Dahlhaus 3, Riding 2, Henderson 2, Malual, Grintell, Bice
North Melbourne: Lowson 2, Stephens, Drury

BEST  
North Melbourne: Hardeman, Butler, Phillips