The Roos’ players hit the track on Wednesday afternoon in a final preparation for their season-opening clash with the Gold Coast Suns.

Ahead of stormy forecasts for their trip to Cairns, Melbourne turned it on for the last session Arden Street session for the week, with the North squad having one final chance to put their hand up for Round 1 selection. 

Two debuts were already confirmed prior to the session, as Jesse Sinclair was on hand to present the playing jumpers to the newest Shinboners, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Billy Hartung.

With the players flying to Cairns on Thursday, the session was relatively short but very sharp, with the players engaging in kicking and tackling drills before entering into some intense match-sense scenarios.


Shaun Atley takes off during the kicking drill.


Braydon Preuss looks to hit a target via hand.


Trent Dumont releases a handball while Alex Morgan and coach Leigh Tudor look on.


Marley Williams explodes out of a pack.

Davies-Uniacke trained with a smile, and looked ready to go ahead of his AFL debut on Saturday night.


Debutant-in-waiting Luke Davies-Uniacke looks for a target.


Davies-Uniacke found plenty of the ball in Wednesday's session.

Fellow debutant Hartung has impressed throughout the pre-season, and will don the royal blue and white after 63 games at the Hawks.


Billy Hartung will make his AFL debut for North Melbourne on Saturday.

Despite returning only recently, Jed Anderson followed up his strong VFL performance with an impressive week on the track.


Jed Anderson has impressed since his return from a thumb injury.

Experienced defenders Scott Thompson and Robbie Tarrant marshalled the defence during the match-sense drills, and the duo will be hoping to lock down key Sun Tom Lynch in Cairns.


Robbie Tarrant will have his hands full with gun Sun Tom Lynch on Saturday.


Scott Thompson eludes a chasing Nick Larkey

The selected players will fly out on Thursday, with a training session at Cazalys Stadium set for Friday, before North takes on the Suns at 7:25pm (AEDT) on Saturday night.