Pint sized rookie Cruize Garlett will make his senior debut when North Melbourne takes on Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Garlett steps straight into the senior team after a fantastic month with North Ballarat in the VFL.
The 20 year-old played for North Melbourne in its NAB Cup loss to Carlton in February but was struck down with a serious ankle injury weeks later and missed a month of football.
He returned for the Roosters in Round 4 and has excelled through the midfield, picking up 23 possessions and 6 clearances last week.
Recruited from Perth, Garlett played senior football in the WAFL in 2007 and was also a part of Western Australia's victorious side in the Under 18 Championships. He was taken by North Melbourne as a rookie at the end of 2007 and played 18 VFL games in 2008, including the Roosters' Grand Final win in which he kicked a telling goal.
In form forward Michael Wundke could also debut after he was named on an extended bench for North Melbourne.
Wundke was promoted to the North Melbourne senior list at the end of 2008 after a fine season with North Ballarat alongside Garlett. He kicked 45 goals in the Roosters' premiership winning side last year and has kicked 16 goals in the last six weeks.
The 21 year-old spent two seasons with North Adelaide in the SANFL before being selected by the Kangaroos as a rookie in 2007.
While Garlett and Wundke were somewhat surprise inclusions, there were no doubts about the inclusion of key defender Lachlan Hansen.
After two weeks with North Melbourne affiliate Werribee, Hansen has gained some valuable match practice and looks primed to take on a Crow forward line featuring Jason Porplyzia, Taylor Walker and Kurt Tippett.
Hansen was one of the shining lights in the early part of the season, averaging 15 possessions and seven marks a game before a hamstring injury against Richmond kept him out for four weeks.
Also resuming will be first round draft pick Jack Ziebell who was a late withdrawal against the Saints due to illness in the lead-up to the game.
The former Murray Bushranger has had an exciting start to his career, earning a NAB Rising Star nomination after his Round seven performance against Port Adelaide in which he netted 23 possessions.
Corey Jones has been named in a forward pocket to make his long awaited return after some strong form in the VFL for North Ballarat. He has been named in the Roosters' best in six of the last seven games and looks set to fill the void left by Sam Wright and Ben Warren.
Midfielder Daniel Harris and defender Levi Greenwood have also been named in the Kangaroos' extended squad and both will hope for a return when the final team is named on Friday.
Ben Warren (cheekbone) and Sam Wright (knee) will both miss the game due to injuries sustained in last week's loss to St Kilda. Matt Campbell (hamstring) and Daniel Wells (hip/groin) will need a week of rest in order to overcome their injury concerns after pulling up sore in the past few days.
North Melbourne Vs Adelaide, Round 12
Sunday, June 14
AAMI Stadium, 4.40pm EST
B: Lachie Hansen (6) Scott Thompson (16) Josh Gibson (38)
HB: Scott McMahon (42) Nathan Grima (17) Brady Rawlings (3)
C: Gavin Urquhart (14) Michael Firrito (11) Ben Ross (15)
HF: Jack Ziebell (19) Drew Petrie (20) Cruize Garlett (32)
F: Corey Jones (21) Aaron Edwards (27) Lindsay Thomas (12)
R: Hamish McIntosh (1) Adam Simpson (7) Andrew Swallow (9)
INT: Daniel Harris (4) Sam Power (5) Levi Greenwood (24) Daniel Pratt (30) David Hale (31) Michael Wundke (34) Leigh Harding (39)
* click on player name for link to profile
In: Harris, Hansen, Ziebell, Jones, Greenwood, Garlett, Wundke
Out: Campbell, Wells, Wright, Warren
