North Melbourne's 2019 draftees will play their first official games in royal blue and white in Sunday's VFL season opener at Arden St.

Josh Goater, Miller Bergman and father-son selection Jackson Archer have all been named in the backline against Williamstown, while Paul Curtis, who was named in the extended squad for the Roos' AFL round two match against West Coast, is slated to start on the half-back flank.  

Callum Coleman-Jones has been selected in the ruck, dropping out of the AFL side after the Kangaroos opted for a three-pronged ruck attack in the round one loss to the Hawks. 

Tom Powell and Charlie Lazzaro are among the AFL-listed players who have also been named in the extended squad, which will be trimmed closer to the game.  

Can Harry Jones step up?

Although last season's VFL campaign was ended without a winner declared due to Covid, enough games were played for North Melbourne to name a John Law medallist as the club's best and fairest VFL player. That John Law medallist was VFL-listed Harry Jones.

Jones was an electric influence in the Kangaroos' midfield last season and his exploits, along with the departure of former captain Flynn Appleby, have seen him elevated to the position of captain in just his second season at the club.

Will the added pressures of leading the side see Jones take his game to another level as he seeks another opportunity at AFL level? 

Flynn Perez's continuing recovery

Last week's VFL practice game against Box Hill contained a sight for sore Kangaroos eyes. Flynn Perez was running around in a North Melbourne jumper for the first time in almost two years.

After overcoming the perils of an ACL tear, the flying half back lined up, somewhat surprisingly, on the wing, and he didn't just get through the four quarters of the game. He was amongst North's best players on the day.

Finding that ever elusive match fitness will take time after so long on the sidelines, but Perez will continue his recovery this week in the VFL as he continues working towards the long-term goal of a fourth career AFL appearance.

Sunday, March 27

North Melbourne v Williamstown at Arden St Oval, 4.05pm AEDT

NORTH MELBOURNE

B: 34. J. Archer, 8. B. Scott, 16. A. Bonar
HB:  27. M. Bergman, 37. K. Hayden, 31. J. Goater
C:  39. F. Perez, 17. L. Young, 33. P. Walker
HF:  25. P Curtis, 40. E. Ford, 24. T. Powell
F:  32. J. Edwards, 30. C. Comben, 35. C. Lazzaro
R:  21. C. Coleman-Jones, 2. J. Stephenson, 49. H. Jones
I/C:  46. D. Tyson, 47. M. Walker, 53. M. Hore, 56. Y. Dib, 60. L. Cunningham, 61. M. Mitchell-Russell, 70. J. Watkins, 75. C. Weightman    

23rd Player:  52. S. Collins        
Emg:  50. H. Dick, 59. J. Lipscombe, 68. D. Stone, 66. Z. Monkhorst