When Nick Dal Santo takes the field on Saturday to face the Saints, it will be the fifth game of 2014 in which a Roo has come up against his former team-mates.

Ben Jacobs (Port Adelaide), Joel Tippett (Gold Coast, Brisbane) and Robin Nahas (Richmond) were all in the Kangaroos’ lineup when facing their respective former sides. In perhaps a good omen for Dal Santo, three of those four games ended up in wins to North.

NMFC.com.au looks at how the players performed against their old sides for the first time:

Ben Jacobs
Round 3 v Port Adelaide
Arrived at Port: #16, 2010 National Draft
Arrived at North: 2012 trade week

Disposals: 7
Goals: 1
23 per cent game time
Starting substitute

Jacobs came into the side for his first game of the season against the Power and initially had to cool his heels in the substitute vest.

However when he came on the field in the last quarter, he had an immediate impact. A crucial long goal from 50 cut deficit to just three points midway through the final term. It gave the Kangaroos’ side added momentum to complete the comeback and deal Port its first loss of the season.

Although it is Jacobs’ second season at Arden Street, it was the first time he’d played against the team that drafted him with its first pick (#16) in 2010.

Joel Tippett
Arrived at Brisbane: #57, 2006 Rookie Draft
Arrived at Gold Coast: #9, 2010 Rookie Draft
Arrived at North Melbourne: #8, 2013 Rookie Draft

Round 7 v Gold Coast
Disposals: 9
Marks: 4
59 per cent game time
Substituted

Round 9 v Brisbane
Disposals: 9
One per centres: 8
83 per cent game time

Although Tippett only played four games earlier in the season before his long-term injury, two of them were against his former clubs.

The key-defender spent time at Brisbane without playing a game before making two appearances for Gold Coast. In the space of three weeks he faced off against old team-mates on two occasions, with North splitting the results.

Tippett was solid in both games, belying his inexperience by providing a cool head in the defensive half. Unfortunately a pectoral injury suffered the week after the win against the Lions has left him on the sidelines since.

Robin Nahas
Arrived at Richmond: #8, 2008 Rookie Draft
Arrived at North Melbourne: Delisted free agent, 2013

Round 12 v Richmond
Disposals: 18
Tackles: 4
Goals: 2
83 per cent game time

Perhaps the most impressive performance by a Roo against an old side so far falls to Nahas. The former Tiger was instrumental in North’s second half comeback in Round 12, kicking the goal which put his team in front.

Playing in his usual half forward role, Nahas’ pressure close to goal forced numerous Tiger turnovers, allowing North to keep the ball in its forward half for longer periods. It paid off handsomely in a 13 goal to 3 second half.