North Melbourne has made two changes for its opening home game against Fremantle on Saturday, with co-captains Luke McDonald and Jy Simpkin locked in to play their first games in 2024.

Simpkin returns after recovering well from the concussion suffered against the Saints in the AAMI Community Series earlier this month.

He missed the side's Round 1 match against the Giants while completing the mandatory concussion protocols, revealing this week the phone call that helped smooth over any hard feelings towards St Kilda veteran Jimmy Webster.

McDonald has been given the green light for the Marvel Stadium clash after overcoming a serious hamstring injury sustained last year.

Second-year star George Wardlaw starts on the interchange bench alongside Paul Curtis, Eddie Ford, Darcy Tucker and Zac Fisher. Ford has been named as the substitute.

Veteran Liam Shiels makes way this week, along with unlucky young defender Josh Goater, who will miss the rest of this season after rupturing the Achilles tendon in his left leg in last week's season-opener against the GWS Giants. 

Blake Drury and Hugh Greenwood join Shiels as the three emergencies.

Fans are urged to get to Marvel Stadium early on Saturday for the unveiling of the Pagan End, with the champion coach himself in attendance.