North Melbourne has made nine changes to the side that was defeated by the Bulldogs last week.



The Roos will take the chance to freshen up several stars, while giving those pushing for spots a chance to prove themselves against the Tigers ahead of the finals.



Brad McKenzie, Aaron Mullett, Aaron Black, Majak Daw, Mason Wood, Kayne Turner, Trent Dumont, Luke McDonald and Joel Tippett have been named in the North line-up.



Missing this week will be Shaun Higgins (knee), Andrew Swallow (knee), Nick Dal Santo (managed), Michael Firrito (knee), Scott Thompson (ankle), Ben Cunnington (knee), Sam Wright (knee), Todd Goldstein (managed) and Jarrad Waite (managed).

"Almost all of them have just been getting to the line each week and having to win seven of our last eight games and then on the back of consecutive six-day breaks means that they're sore," North coach Brad Scott told NMFC.com.au.

"Resting them is the most prudent thing to do."

McKenzie returns for his first game of 2015 after several impressive outings in the VFL, while Black will line up for the 50th time in North colours.

Mullett, Dumont and Tippett have also been given another chance to impress after North Ballarat’s season coming to a close.

Majak Daw is set to shoulder the ruck duties, with Mason Wood and Kayne Turner to spend time in attack.



Luke McDonald returns to the side after missing last week due to soreness.

North team v Richmond

Backs J.Tippett 36 R.Tarrant 25 S.Atley 18

Half Backs L.McDonald 21 L.Hansen 6 J.Macmillan 34

Centreline S.Gibson 43 J.Ziebell 7 T.Dumont 14

Half Forwards M.Wood 32 D.Petrie 20 T.Garner 27

Forwards B.Harvey 29 M.Daw 38 R.Nahas 28

Followers B.Brown 50 R.Bastinac 3 B.Jacobs 5

Interchange B.McKenzie 2 A.Black 35 K.Turner 40 A.Mullett 41

Emergencies D.Currie 1 K.Harper 23 S.McMahon 42

In: J.Tippett, M.Daw, A.Mullett, A.Black, B.McKenzie, M.Wood, T.Dumont, L.McDonald, K.Turner

Out: N.Dal Santo (Managed), J.Waite (Managed), M.Firrito (Knee), A.Swallow (Knee), S.Higgins (Knee), T.Goldstein (Managed), S.Wright (Knee), B.Cunnington (Knee), S.Thompson (Ankle)