Sunday's AFL opener against Hawthorn at the MCG begins a season of renewed hope for David Noble's developing Kangaroos.

As the clock ticks down to Round 1, here's a snapshot of where North Melbourne stands on the eve of season 2022, and what lies ahead. 

Coach: David Noble
Captain: Jack Ziebell
Vice-captains: Jy Simpkin and Luke McDonald

2022 player list

1 Jack Mahony
2 Jaidyn Stephenson
3 Jed Anderson
4 Aidan Corr
5 Curtis Taylor
6 Jason Horne-Francis
7 Jack Ziebell
8 Bailey Scott
9 Luke Davies-Uniacke
10 Ben Cunnington
11 Luke McDonald
12 Jy Simpkin
13 Jared Polec
15 Atu Bosenavulagi
16 Aiden Bonar
17 Lachie Young
18 Hugh Greenwood
19 Josh Walker
20 Nick Larkey
21 Callum Coleman-Jones
22 Todd Goldstein
23 Ben McKay
24 Tom Powell
25 Paul Curtis
26 Tarryn Thomas
27 Miller Bergman
28 Kayne Turner
29 Will Phillips
30 Charlie Comben
31 Josh Goater
32 Jacob Edwards
33 Patrick Walker
34 Jackson Archer
35 Charlie Lazzaro
36 Phoenix Spicer
37 Kyron Hayden
38 Tristan Xerri
39 Flynn Perez
40 Eddie Ford
41 Matt McGuinness
43 Aaron Hall
44 Cameron Zurhaar
Tom Lynch*

*SSP selection, jumper number yet to be announced

The coaches

David Noble (senior coach)
John Blakey (senior assistant - defence)
Heath Younie (assistant - forwards)
Jordan Russell (assistant - midfield)
Anthony Rocca (assistant - ruck/midfield)
Gavin Brown (head of development)
Leigh Adams (development/VFL)
Brent Harvey (1-2 year mentor)
Tom Lynch (development coach)

2021 in a nutshell

Finished: 18th (P22, W4, D1, L17, 70.27%)

Syd Barker Medal top three
1st - Jy Simpkin (143 votes)
2nd - Ben Cunnington (117 votes)
3rd - Jack Ziebell (114 votes)

While North ended the 2021 season on the bottom of the ladder, there was cause for excitement and positivity as the year progressed, not least thanks to the development of some of the club’s future stars.

A strong 2020-21 off-season saw the likes of number three draft pick Will Phillips and former NAB Rising Star Jaidyn Stephenson arrive at the club, while David Noble became the club’s new head coach.

Four wins and a draw would follow over the course of the year, with victories coming over Hawthorn, Carlton, Gold Coast and, most memorably, West Coast in Perth.

A fast-finishing Jy Simpkin won his first Syd Barker Medal over Ben Cunnington, who was sidelined late in the year following the discovery of a testicular tumour.

New players

Jason Horne-Francis (draft - pick 1), Josh Goater (draft - pick 22), Paul Curtis (draft - pick 35), Miller Bergman (draft - pick 38), Jackson Archer (draft - pick 59 F/S), Callum Coleman-Jones (trade), Hugh Greenwood (free agent), Tom Lynch (supplementary selection period)

Departures

Shaun Atley, Tom Campbell, Trent Dumont, Taylor Garner, Charlie Ham, Connor Menadue, Robbie Tarrant, Dom Tyson, Will Walker.

Players to watch

Click on the links below for analysis of the Kangaroos' list by position, including breakout contenders and the big questions for the new season.

Kangaroos to watch in 2022: Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards

Full fixture list

All times AEDT. Times and dates yet to be confirmed post Round 9.

>> Sync the Kangaroos' 2022 AFL fixture to your calendar now!

Round 1: Hawthorn, Sunday March 20, 1:10pm @ MCG [Away]
Round 2: West Coast Eagles, Sunday March 27, 1:10pm @ Marvel Stadium [Home]
Round 3: Brisbane Lions, Saturday April 2, 8pm @ Gabba [Away]
Round 4: Sydney Swans, Saturday April 9, 1:45pm @ SCG [Away]
Round 5: Western Bulldogs, Friday April 15, 4:20pm @ Marvel Stadium [Home]
Round 6: Geelong Cats, Sunday April 24, 1:10pm @ Blundstone Arena [Home]
Round 7: Carlton, Saturday April 30, 7:25pm @ Marvel Stadium [Away]
Round 8: Fremantle, Friday May 6, 8:40pm @ Optus Stadium [Away]
Round 9: Port Adelaide, Saturday May 14@ Blundstone Arena [Home]
Round 10: Melbourne @ Marvel Stadium [Home]
Round 11: St Kilda @ Marvel Stadium [Away]
Round 12: Gold Coast Suns @ TIO Stadium [Away]
Round 13: GWS Giants @ Marvel Stadium [Home]
Round 14: BYE
Round 15: Adelaide Crows @ Blundstone Arena [Home]
Round 16: Geelong Cats @ GMHBA Stadium [Away]
Round 17: Collingwood @ MCG [Away]
Round 18: Richmond @ Marvel Stadium [Home]
Round 19: Hawthorn @ Blundstone Arena [Home]
Round 20: Essendon @ Marvel Stadium [Away]
Round 21: Sydney @ Marvel Stadium [Away]
Round 22: Adelaide @ Adelaide Oval [Away]
Round 23: Gold Coast @ Marvel Stadium [Home]

Five big games

Round 1: Hawthorn v North Melbourne
Following two disrupted seasons, this will be North's first MCG outing in front of fans since early 2019.
 
These sides met in Round 9 last year, when the Kangaroos delivered a long-awaited win, their first of the season.
 
The Hawks will be determined to extract revenge for that result, but North will be hoping to start its season off with a bang at the home of football.

Round 5: North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
Good Friday football returns, and North Melbourne will again be taking on a Western Bulldogs side still smarting from last year's Grand Final disappointment.

The game is a fundraising centrepiece for the Royal Children's Hospital, and while the event extends far beyond football, the Kangaroos will be hoping to put in a better performance than in last season’s Good Friday game.

>> GOOD FRIDAY SUPERCLASH: Tickets, info and how you can support the Royal Children's Hospital
 
Round 6: North Melbourne v Geelong
North host the Cats in their first home game in Tasmania for the year.

The Kangaroos have traditionally performed well in the Apple Isle, a trend that has been continued by North’s AFLW side, who extended their unbeaten record in Tassie this season. Can the men maintain the club’s strong record in Hobart?
 
Round 10: North Melbourne v Melbourne
North Melbourne will get its first in-season look at the reigning premiers over two months into the season.

The two sides played out a competitive game last year in Hobart, and the Kangaroos will be hoping to build on that performance in this clash at Marvel Stadium, rather than the one-sided practice match the two sides recently played out in Casey Fields.
 
Round 20: Essendon v North Melbourne
The only look at the old enemy this season. With all the history between these two teams, last season’s loss to the Bombers hurt, and no matter where the two sides sit on the ladder when they meet, this fixture is sure to serve up plenty of spice.

David Noble’s men will be hoping to showcase their improvement over the course of the year by getting one over the boys in red and black.

More 2022 AFL Season Guides: Defenders | Midfielders | Forwards