North Melbourne has made three changes for its clash with GWS on Sunday, with ruck/forward Tristan Xerri joining Robbie Tarrant and Jaidyn Stephenson as the inclusions at Blundstone Arena.

Xerri has enjoyed a strong vein of form in the VFL to earn his call up, dominating both in the ruck and at ground level in an at times undermanned reserve side.

The game will be Xerri’s first at AFL level for the season, with the number-38 adding to his four games played in 2020.

Tarrant also comes in for his first game of the season after recovering from having a small mass removed from his kidney, while Stephenson has shaken off the wrist injury that had kept him sidelined since Round 9.

Connor Menadue, Tom Campbell and Curtis Taylor have been omitted from the side.

Curtis Taylor, Atu Bosenavulagi, Will Phillips and Tom Campbell have been named as the emergencies.