North Melbourne have to learn how to win again, says coach Alastair Clarkson.

But he's confident the young Kangaroos are well and truly on the path to doing so.

The Kangaroos were left to rue a slow start against the Western Bulldogs, who kicked five of the first six goals in Saturday night's round one clash, and withstood multiple North surges to win by 16 points.

But Clarkson was heartened by how North, who recorded just six wins between 2023 and 2024, stayed in the contest, and confident the tide would turn.

"We know we're getting closer, but we just got to listen to the noise inside the walls of our footy club, rather than the expectations outside, and know that if we can compete deeper into these games like we did on the weekend, then at some point in time that's going to materialise into some victories for us," Clarkson said.

"And then, as we saw with Hawthorn and some other sides, once you start to get that belief, then it can snowball.

"And just at the minute, there's part of it, without a doubt, because we haven't won very often, there's part of it where we just have to learn how to win again. And hopefully we're on that path right at the moment.

"There's no silver bullet to it. It's just working hard out here on the track and just getting regular opportunities to play games and go through experiences like the weekend."

Clarkson noted the Kangaroos didn't convert in front of goal against the Bulldogs.

Their young midfield and ruckman Tristan Xerri will embrace the challenge of taking on Melbourne big man Max Gawn and a star-studded on-ball division led by Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver on Sunday.

"(It's an) opportunity, but also enormous challenge," Clarkson said.

"So that's exciting, and probably without trying to repeat what coaches have said for the last 100 years, it's going to be won or lost in the middle of the ground."

The Kangaroos will be without Jackson Archer (suspension) and Griffin Logue (hamstring) but expect Charlie Comben (ankle) to play.

North will celebrate recruit Jack Darling's 300th game.

The veteran forward will make his second appearance in North colours after 298 games for West Coast.