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North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1 Tips - Roos value in Marvel thriller

Adam Cusworth

Editor

Last updated: Thu 12 Mar 2026 11:30

Adam Cusworth 12 Mar 2026

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North Melbourne Kangaroos are slight favourites in what shapes as a tight contest against Port Adelaide Power.
Experts expect a close match with value around the Kangaroos in a potential Marvel Stadium thriller.
Key players: Harry Sheezel for disposals, Mitch Georgiades and Nick Larkey as key goal threats.
The game will be played at Marvel Stadium on Sunday 15th March, with the bounce at 1:10 PM (AEDT).

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power Expert Prediction

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power Expert Prediction
Head to Head Stats
North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis
North Melbourne Kangaroos Team News
North Melbourne Kangaroos Team List
Port Adelaide Power Form Analysis
Port Adelaide Power Team News
Port Adelaide Power Team List
North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1 FAQ’s

North Melbourne can scrape past Port Adelaide in a Round 1 thriller.

Both sides enter without a competitive home-and-away hitout this season and showed contrasting signs across match simulation and the Community Series.

North Melbourne have been hard to trust in recent seasons with their ‘breakout’ taking forever and a day. But the Roos do appear to be finally trending upward after some lean seasons with their young midfield beginning to mature.

Harry Sheezel and Luke Davies-Uniacke will have a major influence through the middle with Sheezel set to spend more time around stoppages, while Davies-Uniacke is set to provide strong clearance work.

If the Kangaroos can generate enough supply, Nick Larkey remains a dangerous focal point inside 50, particularly at Marvel Stadium where he has consistently found the scoreboard.

Port Adelaide possess elite midfield talent through Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis, while Mitch Georgiades provides a genuine scoring threat up forward.

However, their poor interstate record last season remains a concern and the Power will need to prove they can perform away from home under their new coaching setup. If their midfield gains control they have the firepower to put scoreboard pressure on quickly, but consistency has been an issue in recent seasons.

The home side do look the value in the head to head for this match, but the play might be to focus on player props with a focus on Harry Sheezel, while Mitch Georgiades and Nick Larkey are key at either end.

Port Adelaide won just one of 10 interstate matches last season.
Harry Sheezel has had 30+ disposals in his past four matches, including 54 against Richmond in Round 23 last season
Mitch Georgiades has kicked 2+ goals in his past three matches against North Melbourne
Nick Larkey has booted eight goals in his past two matches at Marvel Stadium

Head to Head Stats

Port Adelaide have won the past six matches between the two sides by an average margin of 49 points but the Kangaroos came close the last time the two sides met, going down by nine points in the 2025 Round 7 Adelaide Oval clash.

Luke Davies-Uniacke has averaged 28 disposals in his past five matches against Port Adelaide, while Zak Butters have averaged 26 from his past four for the Power.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Form Analysis

North Melbourne endured another difficult season in 2025, finishing 16th with a 5-17-1 record as their rebuild continued.

Their Community Series clash against Collingwood produced one of the more encouraging performances of the pre-season. The Kangaroos overturned a 31-point deficit to win by a point after dominating the final quarter.

Young midfielders provided the spark while Harry Sheezel (33 disposals) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (33) continued to accumulate possessions through the middle. Nick Larkey booted three goals. That result was a positive response to the Match Simulation against Melbourne that saw them go down by 80.

Port Adelaide Power Form Analysis

Port Adelaide finished 13th in 2025 with a 7-16 record and struggled badly away from Adelaide, winning just one of ten interstate matches.

Their Community Series clash with West Coast showed promising signs as the Power controlled large portions of the match. Zak Butters finished with 36 disposals and Connor Rozee had 33, generating repeat inside-50 entries. Mitch Georgiades capitalised up forward with six goals. Port went down to their cross-town rivals, Adelaide, in match simulation in their only other pre-season hitout.

North Melbourne Kangaroos Team News

North Melbourne will be without young star George Wardlaw early in the season due to a hamstring injury. Colby McKercher (finger) and Luke McDonald (wrist) are overcoming concerns but may be available.

Harry Sheezel is expected to spend more time through the midfield after an impressive pre-season, while Nick Larkey remains the focal point inside 50.

Callum Coleman-Jones is also expected to rotate between ruck and forward roles.

Port Adelaide Power Team News

Port Adelaide enter Round 1 with a relatively settled lineup.

Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Jason Horne-Francis remain the key drivers through the midfield while Mitch Georgiades and Todd Marshall provide forward targets.

Defensively, Aliir Aliir continues to anchor the backline.

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power Team List

North Melbourne	POS	Port Adelaide
T. Pink, G. Logue, C. Comben	B	L. Jones, E. Ratugolea, T. Marshall
F. O’Sullivan, C. Daniel, T. Blamires	HB	M. Bergman, A. Aliir, K. Farrell
J. Simpkin, T. Powell, D. Stephens	C	J. Burgoyne, C. Rozee, J. Wehr
P. Curtis, C. Trembath, J. Konstanty	HF	J. Horne-Francis, M. Georgiades, J. Berry
C. Zurhaar, N. Larkey, L. Dovaston	F	D. Byrne-Jones, J. Whitlock, J. Richards
T. Xerri, L. Davies-Uniacke, H. Sheezel	FOLL	D. Visentini, Z. Butters, W. Drew
Z. Duursma, C. McKercher, L. McDonald, C. Coleman-Jones, L. Parker, J. Darling, Z. Banch, R. Hansen Jr	I/C	C. Durdin, J. Mead, O. Lord, J. Lukosius, J. Sweet, E. Mackinlay, L. Evans, J. Watkins

North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1 FAQ’s

How to watch North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1?

You can watch the North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1 game via Fox Sports or Kayo Sports. If you are watching from outside Australia the WatchAFL app is the perfect solution.

How to buy tickets to North Melbourne Kangaroos vs Port Adelaide Power AFL Round 1?

To buy tickets check the AFL website or the official North Melbourne Kangaroos or Port Adelaide Power sites.

Verdict

North Melbourne Kangaroos v Port Adelaide Power

Kangaroos in a close one with Sheezel instrumental. Larkey and Georgiades to fire up at either end

North Melbourne

Match Result

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Harry Sheezel

30+ disposals

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Mitch Georgiades

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Nick Larkey

3+ goals

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