North Melbourne will venture to Mount Barker on Saturday for the inaugural Gather Round, with the hopes of causing an upset when it takes on a talented Brisbane outfit.

Despite going into this weekend as underdogs, Alastair Clarkson's side has shown so far this season that it can truly challenge strong oppositions, and given the somewhat inconsistent performances Brisbane has produced across 2023, North Melbourne will be ready to pounce.

The Roos will need to do it against the flow, however, with the club's last win over the Lions dating back to Round 20, 2018 at the Gabba.

Important inclusions

With Ben McKay and Griffin Logue available, the Kangaroos have been able to bolster their defensive stocks heading into Round 5.

Due to bone stress in his right foot, McKay has been unsighted since the pre-season hitout against the Bulldogs but will reclaim his post at full-back on Saturday, while Logue will slot straight back into defensive 50 after serving a one-match suspension.

Their absences last Friday meant the likes of Aidan Corr and Aiden Bonar were tasked with battling Carlton's twin tower forwards in Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow undersized, but now, for the first time this season, the Roos have a host of backline weapons.

Little wins

A costly 30-minute lapse during the Good Friday SuperClash saw the Kangaroos swiftly lose touch with the Blues, but it's not a factor that has caused concern regarding Clarkson's vision moving forward. 

While his side conceded seven answered goals in a stretch that spanned over most of the third term and into the final quarter, North Melbourne's senior coach was focused on the little wins.

"I was really pleased with the way we finished the game; we could’ve easily rolled over," Clarkson said post-game last Friday.

"I think we scored five goals in the second half of the last quarter which put some respectability into the scoreline, but it made it more of a reflection of what the game was like.

"They (Carlton) smashed us for about a 30-minute period … but we had more inside 50s, more scoring shots, (more) contested ball, (more) clearances so outside of the game itself which obviously we lost, we're having some little wins in other areas of the game and when you're on the journey we're on, they're the things you need to look for."

The improvement is clear, and it won't be long until Clarkson's emerging Roos start to convert their strength around the ground into winning scores.

Rising stars

A multitude of new names have been impressing across the competition this year, but none more so than draftees Harry Sheezel and Will Ashcroft.

Saturday will see the No.2 (Ashcroft) and No.3 (Sheezel) picks of the 2022 draft, and former Sandringham Dragons teammates, face off on an AFL field for the first time in their careers.

Despite being selected as a forward, Sheezel's disposal execution, general smarts and ability to read the play and has seen him flourish off half-back, under the guidance of experienced defenders like Luke McDonald and Jack Ziebell.

After collecting 34, 30 and 26 disposals in his first three weeks as an AFL footballer, his 37 touches against the Blues saw him take his season tally to 127 and subsequently claim the record for most disposals by any player after four career V/AFL games, further solidifying his credentials as one of the League's best young guns.

Up north, Ashcroft has also had an immediate impact at his new club. The son of three-time premiership Lion Marcus Ashcroft has averaged 23 touches a game so far this season and played an important role in Brisbane's win over Melbourne in Round 2, finishing with 31 disposals, nine clearances and a goal.

While they may not line-up directly on each other on Saturday, the interest around which Rising Star takes box-seat for the 2023 award remains high.

Last time we met

It quickly become a rough night for North Melbourne last time it took on the Lions.

A seven-goal-to-two first quarter from Brisbane at the Gabba rapidly dashed any hopes the Roos had of returning to Victoria with four points, and the home side's dominance didn't relent as it finished the night with a 108-point advantage.

Jy Simpkin stood tall in midfield with 31 disposals, while Curtis Taylor had 23 touches, eight marks and a goal.