AFL debutant Finnbar Maley will be one of three inclusions for North Melbourne for Thursday night's match against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.

The 21-year-old, whose debut was revealed earlier on Wednesday, is joined in Round 8's selected team by Will Phillips and Bailey Scott.

Midfield gun George Wardlaw comes out of the side due to a corked thigh. Goalsneak Paul Curtis will serve the first week of his three-week suspension, while Darcy Tucker has been omitted.

Maley, 21, has earned a reputation as a strong contested mark since joining the Kangaroos as a 2023 rookie draft selection.

A popular figure at Arden St, as evidenced by his teammates' reaction to Wednesday's selection announcement, he has been edging closer to AFL selection for several weeks, and was named emergency for the Roos' Round 7 trip to Port Adelaide. 

Phillips, Scott, Finn O'Sullivan, Riley Hardeman and Jacob Konstanty are named on this week's interchange bench. One of the five will be named substitute an hour before Thursday night's opening bounce.