The Kangaroos play their first home game for the season against Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

We'll celebrate Jack Darling's milestone 300th game, bring Bollywood dancing to Marvel as part of the Cultural Heritage Series, and give members a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a photo with our 1975 Premiership cup.

Here's everything you need to know.

When: Sunday, March 23 at 3.20pm
Where: Marvel Stadium, Docklands
Gates Open: 1:45pm
Tickets: Secure your seat here!
Member Access: Scan in using your mobile membership via the NMFC App, or by using your barcoded membership card

Getting to the game 

Find everything you need to know about getting to Marvel Stadium here:

Parking | Public Transport | Travel Disruptions | Accessibility

Around the ground

Cultural Heritage Series activations

Head to Gate 2 for a pre-game hype-up including Dhol Drummers, Bollywood dancing and traditional Indian performers roaming

Gate 5 is where you can level up your colour game with the Holi Colour Experience Kiosk; FREE face paint, coloured hair spray - we've got it all! 

Merchandise

Stock up on the latest merchandise inside Gate 7 (behind the Cheer Squad).  

PLUS: Take 30 per cent off select PUMA items; including the 2024 Heritage Range! 

Get your footy feed for only $9  

Water, chips and hot dogs are only $3 when you use the Official Marvel Stadium app. Download here for iOS | Download here for Android.

Your chance to win!

Be in your seats at quarter-time to play the Puma Prize Drop! Scan the QR code when you see it on screen for your chance to win! 

It's time to get on-field...

Did you know you could be in the Guard of Honour, run out with the team as the junior mascot or even deliver the match ball?

Member Zone

This season when you scan in on each gameday, you are going in the draw to win some epic prizes. This week, attend Round 2 and you'll go in the draw to win lunch with the team at Arden Street! 

Scan into all seven home games this year to go in the running for the major prize, which will be announced in the coming weeks.  

Get your photo with the 1975 Premiership cup

Head to the Victory Room on Level 1, near Aisle 14 pre-game to create your own memory with the 1975 Premiership cup. Simply show your membership card to get access to this members-only activation.

Collect your member cap or scarf

Visit the ticket windows outside Gate 5 to collect your 2025 member merchandise. Don't forget to get your Member Choice Voucher ready!

Future Roos Passport Prize collection

Collect your Passport Prize for Round 2! Your exclusive 'Bound Together' badge can be collected at Gate 5 by showing your passport.

Can't make the game? 

Our venue partner The Pass have 200+ venues available in Australia. Find a location near you to watch with other Roos fans!

Exclusive to NMFC members, receive 15% off all your food and bev purchases at The Wharf in Docklands, and 10% off at all other venues, when you order with The Pass!

To join the NMFC list and receive your exclusive discount:

1. Download The Pass from the App Store or Google Play
2. Sign up, and add your preferred payment method
3. Head to More > Promo Code, and enter ‘NMFC‘ followed by your membership number, e.g. NMFC123456
4. Order using The Pass to receive 15% off at The Wharf, and 10% off at all other venues

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Sunday's game will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo.  

Become a Digital Roo member and access the all the member benefits, and a discounted Premium Kayo subscription. Buy now for just $35 a month. 

Stay connected on social media 

For behind-the-scenes access follow the @NMFCOfficial accounts on Instagram, X, Facebook and TikTok and don't forget to use #Kangas to join the conversation.

North Melbourne will look to bounce back from its 16-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs when it faces Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The Roos pushed the Demons to the limit in their Round 15 meeting last season but will be hoping to do enough this time around to collect the four points.

Senior coach Alastair Clarkson won't have defenders Griffin Logue or Jackson Archer at his disposal, after Logue suffered a minor hamstring strain and Archer a three-match suspension against the Bulldogs.

Round 2, North Melbourne v Melbourne
Where: Marvel Stadium, VIC
When: Sunday, March 23 at 3.20pm AEDT
How to watch: Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

A late major from Greater Western Sydney's Lachlan Keeffe ended the Demons' chances of claiming a Round 1 win, as they went down to the Giants by three points at the MCG.

Christian Petracca was at his dynamic best after being sidelined for the second half of the 2024 season due to injury. He gathered 27 touches and booted two goals, while Jack Viney (27 disposals) and Max Gawn (24) were also strong in the narrow defeat.

Tom McDonald and Jake Lever will line up as the primary key defenders, with Steven May ruled out again due to a fractured larynx.

Milestone man

After 298 games as an Eagle and just the one as a Kangaroo, Jack Darling will run out for his 300th AFL appearance on Sunday.

A 2018 Premiership player with the West Coast Eagles and four-time club leading goal kicker, he is set to become the 106th player in VFL/AFL history to reach 300 games.

The veteran played the role he was brought into Arden Street to play last Saturday night, kicking one goal from 15 touches while providing support for spearhead Nick Larkey inside forward 50.

In-form Roo

Nick Larkey

The sharpshooter shrugged off an injury concern to finish as one of North Melbourne's top performers against the Bulldogs.

He slammed through five goals from eight disposals on Saturday, getting his 2025 campaign off to a blistering start.

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson on Thursday: "We were really competitive against the Western Bulldogs on the weekend ... we know that if we can compete deeper into these games like we did on the weekend, then at some point in time, that's going to turn into some victories for us.

"Once you start to get that belief then it can snowball. Just at the minute, there's part of it where we just have to learn how to win again and hopefully we're on that path."

North Melbourne has its first win on the board in 2025 after thumping Melbourne by 59 points at Marvel Stadium.

The Kangaroos celebrated Jack Darling's milestone 300th game in style, overcoming an inaccurate start to win 19.11 (125) to 9.12 (66).

KANGAROOS v DEMONS Full match coverage and stats

Darling kicked two goals and was among 11 individual North Melbourne goal kickers.

A dominant final quarter by the Kangaroos, where they kicked eight goals to Melbourne's one, blew out the margin from 18 points at three-quarter time to nearly 10 goals.

There were highlights all over the park for the Roos, from draftee Finn O'Sullivan's audacious spin on the wing in his second game, to brilliant first AFL goals for young gun Colby McKercher and trade recruit Jacob Konstanty.

One week after kicking 1.4 in a close loss to the Western Bulldogs, Cam Zurhaar answered his critics by kicking 4.1.

North Melbourne's midfield, led by ruck Tristan Xerri (29 hitouts, 12 clearances) and Tom Powell (31 disposals) were the difference, along with livewire forwards Zurhaar, Paul Curtis (three goals, 22 disposals) and Nick Larkey (three goals).

The result was in question at three-quarter time, when the Kangaroos held a three-goal lead after a nip and tuck third quarter.

But it was emphatically buried in the fourth quarter as the Roos piled on six unanswered goals in six minutes and 16 seconds of game time to send the North Melbourne faithful into raptures.

Reliable spearhead Larkey was in the centre of the action, slamming through two goals in a minute early in that fourth quarter burst to sap the Demons' spirits.

North ruck has a Xerri good day

It's not often you see Max Gawn beaten, but on Sunday, Tristan Xerri outplayed the seven-time All Australian. Not only did Xerri's centre bounce hit-outs at the start of the final term provide the Roos with crucial first use, but it was also his ability to win the ball from his own hit-outs and impact the scoreboard. Xerri finished the day with 20 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, 12 clearances and 11 score involvements and a goal in a best on ground performance. Demons coach Simon Goodwin indicated Gawn has been dealing with some personal issues, but acknowledged Xerri won the battle between the two.

Darling's milestone

Veteran forward Jack Darling's second game at his new club will be one that he will remember for the rest of his career. On Sunday, Darling led his new side onto Marvel Stadium as he became the 106th player in VFL/AFL history to reach 300 games. All but two of those games were played with West Coast, where he was a mainstay in their forward line for 14 seasons and a member of their 2018 premiership side. In his two games at North, Darling looks right at home alongside key forwards Nick Larkey and Cam Zuurhar and contributed on Sunday with two goals. In a nice touch, long-time teammate Andrew Gaff presented the veteran with his jumper and chaired Darling off the ground after the win.

Next Up

The Roos will be out to continue their winning form as they head interstate for the first time this AFL season to face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. They will again be without defender Jackson Archer, who is serving a three-match suspension. Key back Griffin Logue could be a chance of returning from a hamstring injury. The game starts at 3.20pm AEDT next Sunday (2.50pm local time).

North Melbourne   3.5    8.9   11.10   19.11 (125)
Melbourne             4.5    6.9   8.10      9.12 (66)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Larkey 3, Curtis 3, Darling 2, Konstanty, McKercher, Parker, Powell, Scott, Simpkin, Xerri
Melbourne: Chandler 3, Fritsch, Henderson, Oliver, Petracca, Turner, van Rooyen

BEST
North Melbourne: Xerri, Powell, Zurhaar, Curtis, Daniel, Comben
Melbourne: Oliver, Chandler, Petracca, Gawn, Lindsay, Viney

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Nil
Melbourne: Jefferson (hand)

SUBSTITUTES
North Melbourne: Dylan Stephens (replaced Will Phillips in the fourth quarter)
Melbourne: Taj Woewodin (replaced Matthew Jefferson in the second quarter)