A brave North Melbourne has struck an early blow against St Kilda with an inspiring come-from-behind two-point win in a last-man-standing affair at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Amid injury carnage on both teams, Rhyce Shaw's Kangaroos came from 31 points down early in the third term to prevail over Brett Ratten's Saints in a thriller, 8.8 (56) to 7.12 (54).

The Roos showed enormous courage given they were reduced to just one fit man on the bench by midway through the third quarter following injuries to skipper Jack Ziebell (knee), runner Paul Ahern (hamstring) and tall Josh Walker (concussion), while St Kilda was without star Jade Gresham (knee) for the entire second half.

The Saints controlled play in the first half, restricting North to just 2.2 by the long break as their running brigade comprising the likes of Jack Billings, Seb Ross and ex-Swan Zak Jones and former Docker Bradley Hill led North a merry dance.

But against the flow of play and their horrific personnel predicament, the Kangaroos somehow found another level after the loss of Ziebell to pile on the next five goals to lead by three points midway through the last quarter.

St Kilda's prized debutant Max King regained the lead for the Saints with his second major with five minutes remaining, before Roos onballer Ben Cunnington put North back in front with his second goal in the space of just nine minutes after being swung forward in an inspired move by Shaw.

The Saints had two late chances to claim the points, but big man Rowan Marshall's set shot from 45 metres drifted right, before a desperate smother from North defender Jamie Macmillan on Paddy Ryder denied Ratten's men yet again.

Walker's lucky escape
Josh Walker's latest AFL career restart ended early and abruptly with a sickening crash landing. The 27-year-old former Geelong and Brisbane key-position player came to grief just 15 minutes into his first game for the Kangaroos when he launched himself high above a pack but lost his balance mid-air and landed heavily on the nape of his neck. An apparently unconscious Walker didn't move for some time, raising grave concerns for his welfare, but to the relief of all present he managed to get to his feet and walk from the field. Diagnosed with concussion, he sat out the rest of the clash. Early in the second term St Kilda's new defender Ben Long also hurt himself after flying high. Long took a screamer but landed awkwardly on his right foot and, after a delay, hobbled from the field with assistance. He returned after half-time.

Ziebell and Gresham didn't kneed that
North skipper Jack Ziebell endured a limited preparation because of a calf injury and now he has other concerns. In the third quarter the Roos warrior entered a contest for a ground ball with typical vigour but went down clutching his right knee. Just when his team needed his leadership and hardness most, Ziebell was helped from the field and didn't return. Soon after, North speedster Paul Ahern limped off with a right hamstring injury. Earlier, Saints playmaker Jake Gresham also suffered a right knee injury, believed to be a posterior cruciate problem, and didn't reappear after half-time.

MEDICAL ROOM
North Melbourne: Big issues for the Roos with captain Jack Ziebell sustaining a right knee injury, Josh Walker suffering concussion and Paul Ahern picking up a right hamstring injury.
St Kilda: Jake Gresham hurt his right knee in the first half, while Ben Long tweaked his right ankle/foot but played out the game.

NEXT UP
If round two proceeds, North Melbourne will face Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night, while St Kilda will host West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 2.2 6.7 8.8 (56)
ST KILDA 3.3 6.7 6.11 7.12 (54)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown, Larkey, Goldstein, Simpkin, Hall, Taylor, Cunnington
St Kilda: King 2, Billings 2, Steele, Membrey, Ryder

BEST
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Polec, Simpkin, Macmillan, Higgins, Dumont
St Kilda: Billings, Hannebery, Steele, Jones, Ross, Clark

Reports: Nil
Umpires: Chamberlain, Stephens, Brown