North Melbourne Kangaroos mid-season draftee Kallan Dawson will make his AFL debut this weekend against Essendon after a number of strong performances in the VFL.

A strong intercept marking defender, the 196cm Dawson was taken with the second selection in his year's NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft and has gone from strength to strength since recovering from a minor ankle injury.

The former electrician was recruited from Williamstown after a strong first half of the campaign with the Seagulls.

With his former side currently on the bottom of the VFL ladder, Dawson was provided with plenty of chances to impress potential suitors ahead of the mid-season recruitment period.

He'll help add some size and strength to a defence tasked with stopping a notoriously tall Bombers side that features the likes of Peter Wright, Harrison Jones and ruck Sam Draper.

Dawson will be presented as Shinboner No.1045 and will wear the No.42 guernsey for the Kangaroos.