Young defender Jamie Macmillan could line up for his first AFL game after being named in North’s initial 25-man squad on Thursday afternoon.
The 18 year-old has had a string of impressive performances in the past few weeks with Werribee in the VFL and is close to receiving the ultimate reward from coach Brad Scott.
The athletic back-man was taken by the Kangaroos with a third round pick (number 37 overall) in the 2009 National Draft after averaging 19 disposals for the Oakleigh Chargers.
Macmillan’s ability to shut down his opponent and win his own ball has catapulted him into contention for a debut. In the past three weeks he has collected 62 possessions and laid 20 tackles.
Also in with a chance to play against Port Adelaide on Sunday is Aaron Edwards and Gavin Urquhart.
Edwards has been in and out of the senior side for much of 2010 and had played seven matches so far with 12 goals to his name.
For Urquhart, it’s been a tough year. He has managed to play just five matches with form and injury hampering his progress.
The defender had arthroscopic surgery to repair knee cartilage torn in the round five clash against Hawthorn and has regained some much needed confidence with North Ballarat in recent weeks.
Whether either of the three will play won’t be known until tomorrow afternoon when Scott releases his final team.
The battle against Port looms as a must win affair for North with the battle for top eight positions intensifying after every round.
Backs: M.Firrito 11 S.Thompson 16 B.Rawlings 3
Half Backs: S.McMahon 42 N.Grima 17 D.Pratt 30
Centreline: J.Ziebell 7 C.Garlett 32 R.Bastinac 28
Half Forwards: B.Cunnington 10 L.Hansen 6 B.Harvey 29
Forwards: D.Wells 8 T.Goldstein 22 L.Thomas 12
Followers: H.McIntosh 1 A.Swallow 9 L.Greenwood 24
Interchange: From E.Lower 2 M.Campbell 33 B.Warren 5
S.Wright 19 J.Macmillan 34 A.Edwards 27 G.Urquhart 14
In: A.Edwards , G.Urquhart , J.Macmillan
New: J.Macmillan
* North Melbourne members will receive 1% off at the Roo Shop all week for every thousand
people at this week’s game.
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, 1.10pm Sunday, Etihad Stadium.