North Melbourne forward Aaron Edwards will not play an AFL game before round five of the home and away season after being caught speeding and then refusing an alcohol test.

The 24-year-old was suspended by the Kangaroos for the entire pre-season and the first four premiership games and fined $5,000.

He also faces the potential loss of his licence for two years.

The heavy club-imposed penalty, determined by the `Roos' leadership group, comes after the Kangaroos fined him for a previous alcohol-related incident in 2007.

On that occasion he was ejected for drunkenness from a Lionel Richie concert at a winery in country Victoria.

In the latest incident, Edwards was booked driving 98kph in a 60kph zone on his way to training at 7.46am (AEDT) on Monday.

After being pulled over, he was given a breath-test which indicated he had alcohol in his system.

But he refused a request to attend a police station for a further test.

North chief executive Eugene Arocca said Edwards had behaved unacceptably.

"Obviously we're very disappointed with Aaron putting himself and the club in this situation, it is clearly unacceptable," Arocca said.

"The playing leaders have acted swiftly and appropriately in recommending the course of action that they have and the club wholeheartedly endorses that.

"The club will obviously continue to work closely with Aaron and deal with this problem going forward."

Edwards will continue to train with the squad during his playing ban.

He will also be required to conduct community work.

Edwards played four games for West Coast in 2005 and 26 for North in 2007-08, but was sidelined for most of last season when he broke his leg in a game in round six.

He returned in round 22 and played in the club's elimination final loss to Sydney.

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