INJURED North Melbourne midfielders Ben Jacobs and Mitch Hibberd will not play again this season. 

Hibberd, 20, suffered a shoulder injury in the Kangaroos' 70-point loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday and requires surgery that could sideline him for six months. 

He made his AFL debut in round one and the weekend match was his fourth at senior level.

"Mitch was involved in a marking contest in the first quarter and extended his arm over his head in an attempt to spoil the ball," North doctor Peter Baquie told nmfc.com.au. 

"His arm was awkwardly sandwiched between two players. Upon assessing his shoulder on the bench, we immediately ruled him out of action for the remainder of the game and knew the outcome after scans would be unfavourable."

Jacobs has not added to his 77 AFL games this year after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in February.

A stress fracture in the same bone limited the former Port Adelaide footballer to just seven games in 2016. He is out of contract at season’s end, but coach Brad Scott said he was a required player. 

Jacobs played two games for the club's VFL affiliate Werribee in May, including winning 43 possessions against North Ballarat in his most recent appearance. 

The 25-year-old underwent minor surgery last week to assess his midfoot joint after developing referred pain there. The club reported he had pulled up well from it, but has chosen not to risk him.