North Melbourne has made a handful of changes to its VFL side for Saturday's bout with Box Hill at Arden Street Oval.

With just four games remaining, it's an important battle for the Kangas who continue to push for a spot in the top 10 as they currently sit 11th on the ladder

Kallan Dawson, Curtis Taylor and Toby Pink join the squad having been omitted from the AFL team.

Geordie Payne also returns after missing last week's win over Sydney, while fellow youngster Kade De La Rue is in for his fifth match of the campaign.

Griffin Logue, Zac Fisher and Robert Hansen jnr all earned senior call-ups following last week's five-point win over the Swans at Tramway Oval.

Hamish Free goes out of the side due to concussion, while Jarrod Lienert makes way.

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Round 17

Saturday, July 20
North Melbourne v Box Hill Hawks at Arden Street Oval, 2.05pm AEST

North Melbourne’s VFL side has fallen to the Box Hill Hawks by 14 points in a scrappy clash at Arden Street Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Roos were down by just six points at the halfway point, but a one-goal and seven-behind final term proved costly as the Hawks managed to hold their advantage.

Blake Drury's third major looked like it was going to spark a late fightback for the home side, but the forward 50 entries that followed in the remaining 10 minutes wouldn't produce another major.

In the 5.16 (46) to 8.12 (60) loss, Jaidyn Stephenson was prolific off half-back, finishing with 30 disposals, 11 marks and 12 intercept possessions.

Drury (three goals, 15 disposals) got the Roos underway, kicking his side's first goal following a handball chain created by Will Phillips (22 disposals, seven tackles, seven clearances) and Finnbar Maley (16 disposals, six tackles), before Zane Duursma slotted North Melbourne's second towards the end of the opening quarter.

The best of Drury's three came in the fourth quarter, when he crumbed the pack to perfection and goaled from about 40 metres out. 

It was 2.4 apiece at quarter-time and the Roos had opportunities to hit the scoreboard early in the second quarter, but chances through Wil Dawson and Connor Downie went begging as Andreas Stefanakis snagged Box Hill's third. 

KANGAROOS v HAWKS Full match coverage and stats

Nine minutes later, Cooper Harvey (one goal, 17 disposals) managed to respond with his first goal, levelling the score with a well-converted set shot from a difficult angle. 

Another two-goal-to-one term saw the visitors slightly extend their half-time lead to an 11-point buffer at three-quarter time.

Needing to mount a comeback, the Kangas created enough scoring shots to give themselves a chance but were inaccurate in front of the big sticks, unable to make the most of their eight scoring shots as time elapsed. 

Louis Butler put in a strong shift, racking up 24 disposals and eight intercepts, as well as a tough grab going back with the flight of the ball.

Midfielders Jack Watkins (28 disposals, nine inside 50s) and Hugh Greenwood (22 disposals, nine tackles) stood tall in the engine room, with 19 clearances combined.

Curtis Taylor (calf) and Tyler Sellers - who suffered a head knock - didn't take part in the second half, while Toby Pink (AFL holdover) was also late out, replaced in the side by Jarrod Leinert. 

NORTH MELBOURNE     2.4    3.6    4.9    5.16  (46)     
BOX HILL HAWKS          2.4    4.6    6.8    8.12  (60)     

GOALS  
North Melbourne: Drury 3, Harvey, Duursma
Box Hill Hawks: O'Sullivan 2, Tucker, Thorpe, Stefanakis, Reeves, Ramsden, Arundell

BEST  
North Melbourne: Butler, Stephenson, Drury, Watkins, Greenwood

PRE-GAME CHANGES
North Melbourne: Toby Pink replaced by Jarrod Lienert

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Taylor (calf), Sellers (head)