Last week’s big win over the Northern Bullants has led to a number of AFL call-ups for the North Melbourne Kangaroos, resulting in six changes to the VFL side that will take on Werribee this weekend.

Exciting wing/defensive option Flynn Perez headlines the inclusions alongside fellow AFL-listed players Jacob Edwards and Kyron Hayden, with an extended run in the senior side seeing Perez play his first VFL game since Round 2.

He was the medical substitute for last week’s senior clash with Adelaide and was activated at half-time due to a hip injury sustained to Bailey Scott.

Edwards has recovered from the virus that kept him out of last week’s win, while Hayden returns after being an unused emergency for the senior side last week.

Jack Mahony, Atu Bosenavulagi and Charlie Lazzaro all had their strong VFL performances rewarded with senior call-ups and will miss this week’s clash.

Mahony in particular impressed with 21 disposals, eight tackles and two goals against the Bullants, while Lazzaro’s strong run of form has seen him earn his second selection in North’s 22 for the season.

Phoenix Spicer’s call-up as an emergency also sees him miss the clash, while veteran midfielder Dom Tyson will miss the clash due to hip soreness. Ruck/forward Zach Monkhorst also misses out.

Repeating history

Last week’s vital win stopped the Roos' run of losses. After winning two of the first three games this season, six straight VFL defeats saw the Kangaroos languishing in 19th position on the ladder.

When approaching the clash with Werribee last season North’s form line was eerily similar. The side endured a run of tough defeats before a drought-breaking win put the team back on track for the remainder of the year.

Leading into the same game last year, North had registered tight wins over Essendon and Coburg before going on to defeat a high-flying Tigers side by just five points. Three of North’s best players on the day - Eddie Ford, Jack Watkins and Hamish Dick - are all in the side this time around too, but top performer Bailey Scott is sidelined with injury.

While the Tigers don't quite look to be the same force they were in 2021, they’re still sniffing around the finals places and aren’t an opposition to be underestimated. They’re a part of the logjam of nine teams who are within two wins of the top four.

The Kangaroos will be high on confidence after last week’s win, and if they can knock off the Tigers this weekend then it’ll go some way to proving their credentials as a team turning around their fortunes.

Backline bandits

All season long the Kangaroos have had a spate of AFL-listed names running through the defence, and one of the most pleasing things to see has been the improvement of the young talent that has been plying their trade in the backline.

From the likes of Jackson Archer and Miller Bergman earning senior debuts from strong VFL performances, to Kyron Hayden constantly putting pressure on the senior selected team and Aiden Bonar continuing to learn his role, the VFL has been a brilliant proving ground so far this season.

While AFL call-ups may have eluded Matt McGuinness and Josh Goater so far this year, they’re two of the biggest improvers on the list across 2022. McGuinness has steadily been increasing the pressure on North’s senior key defenders with strong performances week in, week out, while Goater put together a wonderful display of both defensive work and offensive intent against the Bullants.

If you toss in mid-season recruit Kallan Dawson’s exciting maiden appearance for the club last week and the potential for the likes of Pat Walker and Flynn Perez to rotate through defence against the Tigers, suddenly it becomes the line to watch against Werribee.

Saturday, July 2

Werribee v North Melbourne at Avalon Airport Oval, 2.05pm AEST

B: 41. M McGuinness, 31. J Goater, 53. M Hore
HB: 37. K Hayden, 42. K Dawson, 39. F Perez
C: 59. J Lipscombe, 57. C Smith, 49. H Jones
HF: 75. C Weightman, 47. M Walker, 40. E Ford
F: 32. J Edwards, 50. H Dick, 61. M Mitchell-Russell
R: 21. C Coleman-Jones, 33. P Walker, 54. K Answerth

I/C: 58. B Stevens, 60. L Cunningham, 64. W Doquile, 68. J Guthrie, 70. J Watkins
23rd player: 64. W Doquile

EMG: 52. S Collins, 55. C Hinkley, 66. Z Monkhorst, 79. T Howard

INS: 32. J Edwards, 37. K Hayden, 39. F Perez, 59. J Lipscombe, 68. J Guthrie, 75. C Weightman
OUTS: 1. J Mahony, 15. A Bosenavulagi, 35. C Lazzaro, 36. P Spicer, 46. D Tyson, 66. Z Monkhorst