North Melbourne fielded its youngest side in almost ten years on Sunday against Port Adelaide.

With an average age of just 24 years and seven days, the Roos were the youngest team in the competition. 

The stats highlight an exciting period of growth and an emerging list, with 12 players aged 22 or under, and six club debutants.

It’s in stark contrast to the same time last year, when North went into its season-opener with the sixth-oldest team, and an average age of 26 years and 73 days.

Against the Power, the Roos had 12 players with less than 50 games’ experience with the likes of Tom Powell, Charlie Lazzaro, Tarryn Thomas, Jaidyn Stephenson, Jack Mahony, Bailey Scott and Luke Davies-Uniacke.

Powell gathered 19 disposals and kicked a goal in an impressive debut, while Stephenson was the Roos’ best with a career-high 33 touches, 7 tackles and 5 clearances.

Scott and Thomas finished with 17 possessions and 2 goals apiece, with Davies-Uniacke dominant in the first quarter, racking up 12 touches and a goal.

"If the fans look at the first quarter I thought Stephenson, Jack Mahony, Tarryn Thomas, Lazzaro, Powell, that’s where we’re going," coach David Noble said. 

"A number of times those guys connected with the ball and we could see the use of the speed, we could see the corridor and we could our speed in defence as well."

With names like Phillips, Ford, Walker, Xerri and Hayden all set to put their hands up in the coming weeks, North fans will have the chance to see the next generation of stars in action.