North Melbourne are hoping to have a trio of sidelined Kangaroos return for Round 11 following "a bit of a circus" at selection in the days leading into the club's clash with Essendon on Sunday.
The Roos were forced to make three changes to their squad in the days after naming their side on Thursday, with co-captain Jy Simpkin (quad) joined by Jackson Archer (ankle) and Hugh Greenwood (Achilles soreness) in being removed from the extended squad.
The trio were among six outs for Alastair Clarkson's team, who also lost young draftee Colby McKercher to a foot issue during the week.
The Kangaroos were in constant conversations with the league and Essendon to approve their final changes ahead of the game, while Essendon were in a similar position after needing to replace Darcy Parish (calf) and Nik Cox (illness) over the weekend.
Speaking after the 40-point defeat to the Bombers, Clarkson said the club should regain some of their lost men.
"We're hoping so," the four-time premiership coach said of having the potential additions for Round 11.
"For both sides it was a bit of a circus. On Friday we rang Essendon and the AFL two or three times to change around our emergency list with who was in and who was out. 'Hughy' went out, also 'Arch' and Jy Simpkin didn't come up.
"The side that we had selected on Thursday was very, very different than one that ran out. That presented some opportunities, like young Wil Dawson got he's got his chance because of that, which is exciting for him and us.
"But it's just a bit unsettling. Sometimes they're just little niggles and you just need to give your boys some rest. I'd be hopeful they'd be able to play next week."
The Kangaroos are bracing to be without defender Miller Bergman for this week's clash with Port Adelaide in Tasmania following a hamstring injury sustained in the loss to Essendon.
Bergman came from the field in the second half holding his thigh, with the young backman set to undergo scans and likely be ruled out for the next week at the very least.
"He'll get scanned during the week. It was bad enough that he needed to be taken out of the game," the Roos coach said.
"When it's a soft tissue injury like that, I can remember one that's recovered in time to play the next week. He'd be in significant doubt (to play Round 11), then it's just the severity of the injury... is it a is it a two or three week, or is it longer?
"We'll get the scan during the week and let you know once we get the result of the scan."
The Kangaroos have been forced to mix and match their key position stocks at either end of the field across the opening 10 games of 2024, with the recent absences opening the door for first-round draft pick and tall defender Wil Dawson to suit up as a defender on Sunday.
The Kangaroos moved recruit Toby Pink into attack, leaving tall Charlie Comben to combine with Aidan Corr and Dawson in defence.
Admitting the club has willingly decided to "sacrifice our side a little bit" to play Comben in defence instead of his traditional role as a forward this year, Clarkson said the aim is to give the 22-year-old an easier run at the top level after a career so far riddle by setbacks.
The 199cm swingman has been a promising addition to the Roos' rearguard, however Clarkson noted his future is likely as a forward.
"He's riddled with injury over the course of his four to five-year career. He's never played back before this year, so we just wanted to settle him into a position behind the ball where you can read the play and perhaps not be involved in as many pack-marking situations in the back end rather than the front end," Clarkson said of Comben.
"Usually the defenders and midfielders outnumber the forwards when you're in packs and he's just found himself to be injury-prone forward of the footy. So we've got him in the back end just to get his career going a little bit hopefully.
"He's played that position really well for us and in the year to date. Where he ends up settling? I would hope for the balance of our side that he'll end up going forward again because he's capable in the ruck as well and he just gives you that perfect type of combination.
"Right at the present time we're having to sacrifice our side a little bit just to allow him to get continuity with his footy. But we're pleased to do that, we know that he's going to be an important player for us in the years ahead."
North Melbourne, stilling chasing their first win of the season, head to Blundstone Arena this weekend to host Port Adelaide on Saturday afternoon.