Defender Jamie Macmillan is inching closer to playing his first game in just over a month after being included in North's 25-man squad for Sunday's clash against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.
The 23-year-old, who has managed 11 games for the Roos so far this season, has not played since injuring his right hamstring against Essendon in Round 16.
North coach Brad Scott said Macmillan had overcome the injury and proven his fitness on the training track.
"We probably could've played him last week and, in fact, if Werribee hadn't had a bye we could've been conservative and just played him in a half in that game," Scott told NMFC.com.au on Thursday.
"He comes in on the back of a really solid preparation and his hamstring has been really good for two weeks now. We feel he's ready to have an impact."
In other additions, Brad McKenzie, Ryan Bastinac, Trent Dumont and Aaron Mullett have all been named following standout VFL performances for North Ballarat last weekend.
Scott said McKenzie and Bastinac were more than capable of filling the midfield void left by vice-captain Jack Ziebell, who accepted his one-match ban for striking St Kilda's Jack Newnes.
"McKenzie just keeps putting performances together week after week. He comes in with really good form and he comes in on the back of consistent performances," Scott said.
"And Bastinac has backed it up for two weeks in a row now with a really powerful and dominant midfield display."
Scott said defender Mullett was another player "knocking on the door" of senior selection at the pointy end of the season.
"He played well for North Ballarat and had 27 possessions off half-back, but he's been a little bit unlucky with continuity this year," he said.
"He's starting to play the footy we know he's capable of at the right time of year."
Scott said omitted forward Taylor Garner would require a rest after being substituted out of last week's win over the Saints at three-quarter time.
"He's missed 18 months of footy prior to coming in and playing six games in a row for us … and I think the time's come for 'Garns' to freshen up," Scott said.
"He won't play at any level this week and we'll look to get him really well recovered and give him every opportunity to come up and play his best footy when he comes back into the side."
The Roos' squad will be trimmed to 22 players on Friday evening.
Squad v Fremantle
B: Michael Firrito, Robbie Tarrant, Lachlan Hansen
HB: Sam Wright, Scott Thompson, Ben Jacobs
C: Nick Dal Santo, Shaun Higgins, Shaun Atley
HF: Luke McDonald, Drew Petrie, Brent Harvey
F: Ben Brown, Jarrad Waite, Lindsay Thomas
Fol: Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Andrew Swallow
Int From: Brad McKenzie, Ryan Bastinac, Trent Dumont, Robbie Nahas, Jamie Macmillan, Aaron Mullett, Sam Gibson
In: Ryan Bastinac, Jamie Macmillan, Aaron Mullett, Brad McKenzie, Trent Dumont
Out: Jack Ziebell (suspension), Taylor Garner (omitted)
Meanwhile Fremantle has made two changes, with Alex Silvagni and Matthew Pavlich forced omissions due to suspension and injury respectively.
Squad v North Melbourne
B: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Garrick Ibbotson
HB: Cameron Sutcliffe, Michael Johnson, Stephen Hill
C: Tendai Mzungu, Nat Fyfe, Tommy Sheridan
HF: Nick Suban, Chris Mayne, Michael Barlow
F: Danyle Pearce, Alex Pearce, Michael Walters
Fol: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Lachie Neale
Int From: Zac Dawson, Matt De Boer, Jonathon Griffin, Hayden Crozier, Connor Blakely, Zac Clarke, Ed Langdon
In: Luke McPharlin, Zac Dawson, Connor Blakely, Zac Clarke, Ed Langdon
Out: Alex Silvagni (suspension), Matthew Pavlich (achilles)
