Scheduled to play against Geelong and the Bulldogs on Sunday at Skilled Stadium, the Kangaroos have named a balanced squad, combining youth with experience.
Highly rated youngster Shaun Atley is in the squad along with second draft choice Kieran Harper. Mature-age recruits Ben McKinley and Cam Richardson will also have the opportunity to show their worth, while North supporters will be delighted to see Drew Petrie’s name back in the mix after a horror run of injuries in 2010.
Liam Anthony and Jack Ziebell will also make welcome returns after injury ravaged seasons last year.
Explosive youngster Ayden Kennedy will be out to impress, as will tenacious forward Brayden Norris who was listed as an emergency on more than one occasion last season for the senior side. Rookie Luke Delaney will be out to nullify the opposition forwards after improving substantially in the pre-season.
But the true feel good story comes with the naming of Sudanese-born rookie Majak Daw who has climbed a virtual mountain of challenges to make it into the squad. Daw will suit up for the first time after having only started playing the game a few years ago.
The squad:
4 Liam Anthony
5 Ben Warren
6 Lachie Hansen
7 Jack Ziebell
8 Daniel Wells
9 Andrew Swallow
12 Lindsay Thomas
13 Leigh Adams
14 Gavin Urquhart
18 Shaun Atley
20 Drew Petrie
21 Cam Richardson
22 Todd Goldstein
23 Kieran Harper
24 Levi Greenwood
25 Robbie Tarrant
26 Ben McKinley
27 Aaron Edwards
29 Brent Harvey
30 Daniel Pratt
32 Cruize Garlett
33 Matt Campbell
34 Jamie Macmillan
36 Ayden Kennedy
37 Brayden Norris
38 Majak Daw
43 Marcus White
45 Luke Delaney
46 Ben Speight
