Old rivals will meet again on Thursday night when Essendon hosts North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Despite not getting the four points, the Roos challenged the Power in Round 6 and will be looking to follow up on their improved performance when they face off with the Bombers.

Here's everything you need to know.

When: Thursday, May 1 at 7.30pm AEST
Where: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Gates Open: 5.45pm AEST
Tickets: Secure your seat here!

Getting to the game 

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

Parking | Public Transport | Travel Disruptions | Accessibility

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Watch on TV or stream on your phone

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

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North Melbourne takes to the stage in prime time this week for a Thursday night bout against Essendon.

Having run Port Adelaide close at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, the Kangaroos will be determined to build on their improving form and take it up to their old rivals.

Round 8, Essendon v North Melbourne
Where: Marvel Stadium, VIC
When: Thursday, May 1 at 7.30pm AEST 
How to watch: Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo Sports

In the mix

With Paul Curtis suspended, a spot has opened up inside Alastair Clarkson's forward line.

Cooper Harvey booted three goals in the VFL side's two-point win over Carlton on Good Friday and is a chance to make his season debut, while untried youngster Geordie Payne is another who has been able to hit the scoreboard regularly at Reserves level.

Given Curtis' strong aerial prowess, Finnbar Maley shapes as another option. Bailey Scott and Will Phillips will also be in the frame for call-ups if Clarkson and the selection committee wish to reshuffle the midfield.

The opposition

Defeat on Anzac Day against Collingwood snapped a three-game winning streak for Essendon.

The Bombers collected the scalps of Port Adelaide, Melbourne and West Coast before falling to the Magpies, and now sit 12th on the ladder with a 3-3 record.

Former Kangaroo Todd Goldstein could be set to line up against his old teammates on Thursday night, after earning praise from coach Brad Scott for his first senior game of the season on Anzac Day.

Harry Jones (ankle) and Dylan Shiel (cramp) are available for selection after injury scares against Collingwood, while Scott has flagged a potential return for young midfielder Elijah Tsatas. 

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson on Wednesday: "We were pleased with our endeavour and application to get ourselves back into the contest [against Port Adelaide]. We were right in the game, particularly in the last 15 minutes of it ... we just couldn't find a way to put it through the sticks and apply some real scoreboard pressure to the Port Adelaide side. In terms of a contest and giving ourselves a chance, we did that, but we need to do it for four quarters and we (only) did for for three last week."

Milestone man

Veteran defender Caleb Daniel will play his 200th game when he runs out against the Bombers.

A 2016 premiership medal was the high point of Daniel's 192 appearances for the Western Bulldogs, where he spent the first 10 seasons of his career. Daniel also earned an All Australian blazer and won a club best and fairest at Whitten Oval before becoming a Kangaroo during last October's trade period.

He's played every game since becoming a Roo and will be aiming to rediscover his best form in his milestone game against the Bombers. 

Essendon has held on to defeat a gallant North Melbourne by three points in a Thursday night thriller at Marvel Stadium.

The Bombers managed just two goals after the main break, but had done enough in a dominant first half to secure the 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) victory.

A missed shot to North Melbourne debutant Finnbar Maley with less than two minutes to go helped the Bombers get over the line in a nail-biting finish in front of a raucous crowd of 35,439.

The mature-aged recruit took a contested mark with the game in the balance, but took longer than the designated 30 seconds to begin his run up and was called by the umpire to play on. 

The call rushed the 21-year-old, whose kick dropped short on the goalline and was taken over by Essendon defenders for a behind.

The Bombers kept possession of the ball in the final moments to hold for the narrow win.

The Bombers came out of the blocks firing, kicking the first three goals of the match. Two of the three came from young forward Archie Perkins, who converted two set shots from practically the same spot on the 50m arc.

Essendon transitioned the ball quickly when going forward, opening up North's defence and making it easy for the Bombers to find free players inside 50.

North finally got a score of their own midway through the term when Cam Zurhaar converted from a free kick. 

Enter Maley, who on debut had a first possession he will remember forever. The 21-year-old announced himself with a huge contested mark inside forward 50 and kicked his first goal with his first kick at AFL-level.

It looked as though Maley's efforts might bring the Kangaroos to life, but the momentum swung back the Dons' way as they scored the next three goals before quarter-time to give them a 22-point buffer at the first change.

The second term was a low scoring affair with only two goals kicked for the term. The Bombers wasted opportunities in front of goal, with Peter Wright missing two set shots, while at the other end, North skipper Jy Simpkin kicked his first with a scintillating goal on the run.

Coincidentally, both sides suffered hamstring injuries to key players in the second quarter within minutes of each other.

First it was North's Jackson Archer, who limped from the field midway through the term, before luckless Bomber Jordan Ridley left the ground shortly after with the same injury.

The injury-riddled Bomber suffered a hamstring setback over the pre-season and was limited to just nine games last year due to a quad injury.

Essendon forward Jade Gresham's night also finished early with a groin concern, leaving the Bombers with just two fit players on the bench late in the final term.

After all the Bombers' good work, a third goal to Perkins before half-time extended their margin back out to 25 points at the main break.

North came out with renewed energy after half-time, kicking four unanswered goals to start the second half. 

The first came from a dashing run inside 50 from 2023 No.2 draft pick Colby McKercher, then the following two came from consecutive goals to North spearhead Nick Larkey. 

Larkey, who has had his goalkicking issues in recent weeks, kicked a long set shot from the boundary, followed by a short set shot from a free kick.

BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

North's four goals reduced the margin to one point, before young Essendon forward Nate Caddy came through with a soccered kick for his second goal of the game to give his side a much-needed steadier.

But it was short lived, as North responded quickly when Zurhaar kicked an outrageous dribbler from the boundary that went past two Essendon defenders.

Moments before the three-quarter time siren, Bomber Harrison Jones rolled over on his ankle as he attempted to spoil a Dylan Stephens mark near the boundary line.

He landed awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the ground.

The stage was set for a close final quarter, and it delivered. Livewire Essendon forward Isaac Kako, who had a relatively quiet night, kicked the first of the final term when he crumbed and snapped a goal to start proceedings.

The arm wrestle continued until finally North got one of their own when Zane Duursma again reduced the margin to within a goal late.

North had its moment when Maley lined up for his shot on goal, but his miss allowed the Bombers to hang on in a thriller.

Maley's moments
North Melbourne unveiled a new cult hero tonight in mature-aged recruit Finnbar Maley. Maley was picked up by the Kangaroos with Pick No.2 in the 2023 Rookie Draft from Eltham Football Club after a stint in the VFL with the Northern Bullants. The tall forward with a signature moustache made an immediate impact, taking a strong contested mark with his first touch and converted truly. Maley joins the illustrious group of players to kick a goal with their first kick, as he bent the ball around in a snap shot on goal. Maley's set shot with less than two minutes to go could have seen the first gamer kick the sealer, but the fairytale wasn't to be.

ESSENDON                    6.1    7.5    8.7    9.11 (65)
NORTH MELBOURNE     2.3    3.4    8.6    9.8 (62)

GOALS
Essendon: Perkins 3, Caddy 2, Langford, Martin, Hobbs, Kako
North Melbourne: Larkey 2, Simpkin 2, Zurhaar 2, Maley, McKercher, Duursma

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Caddy, Perkins, Durham, Redman
North Melbourne: Xerri, Powell, Zurhaar, Simpkin, Sheezel

INJURIES
Essendon: Ridley (hamstring), Jones (ankle), Gresham (groin)
North Melbourne: Archer (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Jye Menzie (replaced Jordan Ridley in the second quarter)
North Melbourne: Bailey Scott (replaced Jackson Archer in the second quarter)

Crowd: 35,439 at Marvel Stadium