Star ruck Tristan Xerri will return to action for North Melbourne in Friday afternoon's match simulation against Melbourne at Casey Fields.
Xerri, who missed last Friday's official intraclub while helping Victoria to a State of Origin win over Western Australia, will line up in the Kangaroos' 24-player squad set to take on the Demons.
Exciting young forward Lachy Dovaston will add a fresh dimension to an experienced Roos forward line led by captain Nick Larkey and the dynamic Cam Zurhaar.
Train-on player Zac Becker, who is trialling with the Kangaroos during the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP), will wear Paul Curtis' No.25 against the Demons.
A 22-year-old tall defender from Sturt in South Australia, Becker will be keen to show his wares against AFL opposition, after impressing with his clean ball use in last Friday's official intraclub at Arden St Oval.
The Kangaroos have until Monday, March 2 to decide whether to sign an SSP player to fill the list spot made available by defender Jackson Archer's long-term injury.
Friday's match sim will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
The match sim has been brought forward to an earlier start time of 4pm AEDT.
Following the AFL action, the VFL Kangaroos will take on the Casey Demons in three periods of match sim, with that match expected to start at 6.30pm AEDT.
2026 match simulation
North Melbourne v Melbourne
📆 Friday, February 20
📍 Casey Fields
📺 Fox Sports from 4pm AEDT
North Melbourne squad
1 Lachy Dovaston
2 Finn O’Sullivan
3 Harry Sheezel
5 Caleb Daniel
7 Zane Duursma
8 Bailey Scott
9 Luke Davies-Uniacke
12 Jy Simpkin
15 Dylan Stephens
17 Riley Hardeman
19 Griffin Logue
20 Nick Larkey
21 Callum Coleman-Jones
24 Tom Powell
25 Zac Becker (SSP train-on player)
26 Luke Parker
27 Jack Darling
30 Charlie Comben
32 Toby Pink
37 Cooper Harvey
38 Tristan Xerri
41 Jacob Konstanty
44 Cam Zurhaar
46 Robbie Hansen jnr
Match sim format
- 4 x 20 min quarters (time on for goals and out of bounds plus any significant delays in play)
- 2 min scenario training at end of Q2 and Q4
- Q1 & Q3 breaks = 6 mins
- Q2 break = 20 mins
