It's 30 years since we beat the Swans in the 1996 Grand Final and we're taking them on again at home in Round 9.

Here’s everything you need to know. 

When: Saturday, May 9 at 1.15pm AEST
Where: Marvel Stadium, Docklands, VIC 
Gates Open: 11.45am

Member Access: Scan in using your mobile membership via the NMFC app, or by using your barcoded membership card. 

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

Parking | Public Transport | Travel Disruptions | Accessibility 

... or get straight to the game for less, thanks to our transport partner 13cabs!

Introducing the Intrepid Footy Passport! Thanks to our official membership partner, for every North Melbourne home game you attend at Marvel Stadium this season, you'll earn $100 towards an Intrepid Travel voucher* to go on your dream trip. *Minimum spend and T&Cs apply. Find out more!

Collect your Member Scarf from the Member Hub 
Visit Guest Services at Gate 5 to collect your 2026 member merchandise. Don’t forget to have your Member Choice Voucher ready!

Boomer & Friends is back! Boomer Harvey and Michael 'Spud' Firrito will be in the Social Club and Premiership Club before the game to entertain us with some footy stories, pre-game banter, and insights from inside the club. Sign up to Social Club or Premiership Club now!

Future Roos Passport Prize collection 
Collect your Passport Prize for Round 9! Your exclusive badge can be collected at Guest Services at Gate 5 by showing your Future Roos passport.

From 11.55am we will be playing the final quarter of the '96 Premiership win on the big screen, so be in your seat to watch!

At every Roos home game this year, one lucky fan will walk away with a FREE CHiQ TV! Be in your seat early for the chance to be randomly selected as our Round 9 winner!

HOKA are also giving you the chance to win a shopping spree, so keep an eye on the Big Screen before the bounce.

Head to Gate 7 for fun for the whole family! Take part in CHIQ's handball target competition and you may be chosen to participate in our quarter time activation onfield! Maccas will have their inflatable, plus Roo Squad will have FREE face painting, a colouring-in station, footy skills stations and sensory play activities.

Head to Gate 4 and check out the BT-Booth from our friends at Mazda.

In a nod to our 1996 Premiership win over Sydney, we'll be playing a good old fashioned game of The Price is Right at quarter time, thanks to our matchday partner, CHIQ. Be in your seat to see one lucky winner walk away with a brand new CHIQ washing machine!

Keep an eye out for Kanga and Ruby, our beloved team mascots who will be roaming the concourse pre-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 per cent off all your food and bev purchases at The Wharf in Docklands, and 10 per cent 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 per cent off at The Wharf, and 10 per cent off at all other venues

Watch on TV or stream on your phone

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on Fox Footy and Kayo.

Become a Digital Roo member and access the all the member benefits, and a discounted Premium Kayo subscription. Buy now! 

Stay connected on social media 

For behind-the-scenes access follow the @NMFCOfficial accounts on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X.

North Melbourne returns to home turf on Saturday afternoon to host the ladder-leading Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium.

The 4-4 Roos are hunting a major scalp to underline their improvement, and will be out to spring an upset against one of the competition's hottest sides.

Round 9, North Melbourne v Sydney
When: Saturday, May 9 at 1.15pm AEST
Where: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
How to watch: Foxtel, Kayo Sports

The opposition

Eye-catching and full of run, Sydney sits atop the AFL ladder after eight matches having lost just once so far this season.

The Swans fired another warning shot across the League last weekend as electric small forward Malcolm Rosas jnr booted seven goals in a 17-point shootout over Melbourne at the SCG.

Rosas jnr is just one piece of Sydney’s dangerous forward line. Key targets Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey also come in hot after combining for seven goals against the Demons.

Justin McInerney has lifted his game to another level in 2026 and looms as a key threat on Saturday, while Isaac Heeney also demands close attention after producing a dominant 34-disposal, five-goal performance the last time the Swans and Roos met.

They'll be without Tom McCartin again this week, while Charlie Curnow and Jai Serong have also been ruled out through injury.

Running hot

Tristan Xerri continues to underline his importance to North Melbourne.

In his second game back after a three-week suspension, the Kangaroos ruckman produced a career-best 30 disposals against Geelong, with 26 of them contested.

Alongside his game-high disposal tally, Xerri recorded 14 clearances and seven tackles, earning eight coaches votes despite the 49-point loss.

His battle with Brodie Grundy is shaping as one of Saturday afternoon's marquee match-ups.

What the coach has said

North Melbourne senior coach Alastair Clarkson post-game v Geelong: "In the times where we could have punished them with our ball use we just weren't quite as polished as they were ... we gave up some footy at crucial stages that allowed them to retain the ball in their front half and ultimately that overwhelmed us in the end."

Last time we met

Looking to make up for a disappointing 65-point Round 4 loss against the Swans, the Roos scrapped hard in Round 19 at the SCG.

Down by 12 points at three-quarter time, Alastair Clarkson's side lacked polish in the final term as the Isaac Heeney-led home side broke the game open to claim a 12.12 (84) to 7.11 (53) victory.

Jy Simpkin starred for the Roos, finishing with a goal and 809 metres gained from his 28 disposals, while fellow midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke was solid with 26 touches and two goal assists.

On a day when one Blakey was part of the 30-year premiership reunion celebrations in the stands at Marvel Stadium, another terrorised North Melbourne through the corridor with his game-breaking run to help Sydney get the job done.

North Melbourne's famous 1996 team, including John Blakey, have spent the weekend reminiscing about that famous Saturday in September at the MCG, where Denis Pagan's men smashed the Swans by 43 points.

KANGAROOS v SWANS Full match coverage and stats

Sydney has played much better games in 2026 so far, but they lifted when required after half-time to win by eight points, a sixth straight victory – and reclaim top spot from Fremantle – after holding off a Kangaroos side that kept coming until the final siren.

Nick Blakey has also played better games this year – he is the No.1 rated half-back in 2026 for a reason – but his transition game was crucial to securing the 16.9 (105) to 14.13 (97) win on the road.

The game was still alive in the final 60 seconds when Cam Zurhaar had a shot on the run that just missed, but the Swans held on having held them off for much of the 120 minutes.

The Kangaroos showed their growing maturity in defeat, controlling the centre corridor and matching Sydney's firepower for much of the contest.

Luke Davies-Uniacke (34 disposals, six clearances) led the way, well supported by Harry Sheezel (31 disposals, seven tackles) and former Swan Luke Parker (29 disposals, 10 marks).

With a glittering collection of North Melbourne royalty in the building, Alastair Clarkson's side gave them something to barrack for all day. But the Kangaroos didn't make the most of their chances in front of goal, despite winning the inside-50 count 67-51.

Of the current crop, George Wardlaw looks like he has been plucked from the era that produced the likes of Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens and plonked into a modern game that now includes the ARC, the lasso rule and representative football again.

Wardlaw's signature ferocious pressure set the tone from the start, even if he was criminally denied two holding the ball calls that enraged the home supporters.

Davies-Uniacke's clever inside-out chip set up Darling for the Roos' opener, and he provided Darling's second with a raking pass to the forward pocket.

The home side's lead stretched to 19 points at one stage in the first quarter, but Clarkson would have been disappointed at quarter-time after two late Swans goals cut the deficit to seven points. 

Warning signs flashed as Sydney kicked the first three goals of the second quarter, but the Roos showed resilience to get back on top. 

It wasn't until Charlie Spargo swooped on a ball inside 50 that North Melbourne finally had another major, and it was the two former Swans – Parker and Dylan Stephens – that were key in the Roos remaining in the contest.

Young guns Colby McKercher and Finn O'Sullivan provided the dash and veteran Parker the steel as the Kangaroos hit the lead before half-time through former skipper Jy Simpkin.

They hung in in the third, first via Tom Blamires, then courtesy of a clever Zane Duursma goal on the run.

But the Swans kept responding. Give them the corridor at your own peril. Dean Cox's men have cut sides apart on the overlap run and it was telling in the third quarter.

Adam Simpson, Anthony Stevens, Wayne Schwass and co became greats on the back of September football. North haven't played a final since 2016, but when they do eventually return, Wardlaw, Harry Sheezel, Finn O'Sullivan, Colby McKercher and Davies-Uniacke are building an imposing midfield mix.

What a difference George makes

George Wardlaw missed the trip down the highway last weekend due to illness, but instantly injected an added spark into North Melbourne's midfield on Saturday. No one chases like this guy. On a day where North celebrated so many greats, Wardlaw has the tools to be one down the track, he just needs some luck with his body after a run of injuries.

Next Up

The Kangaroos return to Adelaide for the second time this season to face the Crows at Adelaide Oval next Saturday. The match is at 1.15pm AEST (12.45pm local time). 

NORTH MELBOURNE   6.2   8.8   12.9   14.13 (97)
SYDNEY                         5.1   9.1   15.4   16.9 (105)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Darling 2, Duursma 2, O'Sullivan 2, Blamires, Curtis, Konstanty, Sheezel, Simpkin, Spargo, Xerri, Zurhaar
Sydney: Heeney 3, McDonald 3, McLean 3, Papley 2, Amartey, Cootee, Lloyd, Sheldrick, Warner