North Melbourne returns to Marvel Stadium for Round 3 all set to face a winless Essendon outfit with plenty of motivation.

Outplayed by West Coast last Sunday, the Roos will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign.

Round 3, Essendon v North Melbourne
When: Saturday, March 28 at 7.35pm AEDT
Where: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

Two games in and Essendon has found itself under the pump.

The Bombers were outclassed in their first contest, going down to Hawthorn by 62 points, before Port Adelaide proved too strong at Adelaide Oval last Sunday.

They'll take some hope out of their fourth-quarter effort against the Power which saw them boot five goals, but it marked the second consecutive week that Brad Scott’s side conceded 20+ majors.

Nate Caddy was a silver lining in Round 2 and will look to back up his four-goal effort on Saturday night, but the Bombers will enter Marvel Stadium without seasoned defender Mason Redman, who picked up a knee injury.

Running hot

Although the final result went West Coast's way, you can't take anything away from what Kangas captain Nick Larkey was able to produce.

A week after booting four goals against Port Adelaide, Larkey went bigger, putting through a game-high six to take his season tally to 10.

The spearhead’s best return for a season sits at 71 goals which resulted in a maiden All-Australian selection, and the star forward has already made significant inroads towards topping that record.

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson post-game v West Coast: "Credit to West Coast, they probably worked harder off the ball than what we did, particularly once the ball left the congestion and got to the next contest. They were far superior at ground balls … they were much more prepared to work to the next contest.

"If we're poor at that it's going to be difficult to win, but that's any game of footy really. If you don’t back up your contest wins inside the stoppage and follow it up, then most sides are going to beat you."

Last time we met

Despite managing just two goals after the main break when the sides met in Round 8 last year, the Bombers had done enough damage in the first half to set up a 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) win over the Roos.

A missed shot to North Melbourne debutant Finnbar Maley with less than two minutes to go helped Essendon get over the line in a nail-biting finish at Marvel Stadium.

Tom Powell put in a strong shift, winning 28 touches to go with nine tackles, while Tristan Xerri racked up 39 hitouts, 25 disposals and 10 clearances.

North Melbourne has beaten arch-rival Essendon for the first time in 10 years.

Saturday night's 12-point win, 12.9 (81) to 9.15 (69), was the Kangaroos' first over the Bombers since Round 8, 2016, and improves their win-loss record this season to 2-1.

BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Young forward Zane Duursma kicked three goals in a feisty game at Marvel Stadium that could see ruck Tristan Xerri come under scrutiny from the AFL's match review officer.

Veteran Luke Parker turned back the clock with 33 disposals and 13 marks off half-back, while Harry Sheezel showed his class with 33 touches.

For the Bombers, Peter Wright kicked two majors but there was little else to write home about despite booting four goals in a row to close the gap late in the match.

Zach Merrett was held to just 10 disposals in a disciplined effort by Finn O'Sullivan.

Duursma kicked three of the Roos' first five goals in a scrappy first half punctuated by moments of free-flowing North Melbourne football.

After an even first quarter, tempers frayed in the second term with Xerri in the thick of the action.

The big ruck conceded a 50m penalty before being felled off the ball by Essendon captain Andrew McGrath. While Xerri lay on his back, the Bombers' attack was intercepted, the Kangaroos rebounded quickly and found Xerri, now back on his feet, unattended at the top of the goal square.

More pushing and shoving followed as tempers boiled over following an incident between Xerri and McGrath. 

When the game resumed, the Kangaroos gradually began to get their running game going.

First-year forward Lachy Dovaston was on the end of perhaps the half's slickest passage of play, goaling after a beautifully weighted pass from Paul Curtis, before passionately showing his jumper to the baying Bomber crowd.

Outside of the Xerri incident, there was plenty to like for North Melbourne, which led at every change and looked the stronger side throughout.

While Essendon's intensity and defensive system looked to have improved following back-to-back 10-goal losses in their opening two games, North Melbourne was still able to transition the ball from defence to attack with ease.

The Kangaroos kicked away to lead by 36 points at the final change, and while the Bombers rallied in the last quarter to peg back the margin, they never looked like winning.

By George, he's still got it

It's been a long wait for Kangaroos fans but George Wardlaw finally made his first appearance in 2026 after a summer complicated by injuries. The 21-year-old strained his hamstring in a VFL practice match in February, just weeks after a similar injury in the club's match sim. He was a chance to play last week against West Coast but the Roos erred on the side of caution. He was back in the thick of the action against Essendon, picking up 16 disposals, seven clearances and two tackles. After the match, Wardlaw admitted he was a "bit nervous" but got through unscathed - much to everyone's relief.

Duursma v Duursma

For the second week in a row, Zane Duursma has found himself on the opposite side to one of his brothers. Last week, he faced off against No.1 pick Willem in the loss to West Coast. On Saturday night, it was Xavier's turn. Zane got off to a flyer, kicking three goals - his best ever haul in a match - in the first half as the Roos built a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Xavier gathered 17 disposals in a solid effort for the Dons. Willem and Xavier will meet next when the Eagles take on the Bombers in round 12.

Next Up

Another six-day break lies ahead for the Kangaroos. Then it's back onto the big stage at Marvel Stadium for the Good Friday SuperClash against Carlton. The match, which is expected to sell out, starts at 3.15pm AEDT. 

ESSENDON                         2.5    4.8    5.12    9.15 (69)
NORTH MELBOURNE         3.2    7.2   12.6    12.9 (81)

GOALS
Essendon: Wright 2, Blakiston, Caddy, Caldwell, El-Hawli, Gresham, Kako, Merrett
North Melbourne: Duursma 3, Larkey 2, Trembath 2, Blamires, Curtis, Dovaston, Xerri, Zurhaar 

BEST
Essendon: Roberts, Caldwell, Wright, McGrath
North Melbourne: Parker, Sheezel, McKercher, O'Sullivan, Davies-Uniacke

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil