North Melbourne’s Round 1 opponent, Fremantle, is reeling after a 51-point loss to West Coast on Sunday.

Dockers’ coach Ross Lyon spoke of his side’s injury concerns after tall forwards Brennan Cox and Matt Taberner left the field early in their respective games at AFL and WAFL level; both with hamstring issues.

Lyon laid the blame at the feet of the AFL for not scheduling a longer break between JLT1 and JLT2.

"I think the big picture is when you schedule teams – we've lost Cox in the first quarter to a hamstring – off their first hit-out, at least give them a normal break of seven days would be nice," he said.   

"We'll be able to voice that. I never whack the AFL, they're super, but I came here concerned and I walk away concerned with it."

Fremantle had already lost Griffin Logue and Sam Switkowski to hamstring issues in JLT 1 against Collingwood the previous Monday.  

Out-of-favour Cam McCarthy could now be in line to face North alongside Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb in attack.  

The Dockers will have Nat Fyfe (elbow) and Bradley Hill (corked calf) available against the Roos.