Melbourne and North Melbourne will play no part in this year's AFL finals but they're tipped to be heavyweights of the future and Kangaroos hard man Michael Firrito wants to set the tone early.

The ninth-placed Kangaroos are seeking a win in their round-22 away clash against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday to finish the season with boasting rights as the best team outside the eight in 2010.

And with one win over the Demons already this season, North are keen to maintain their superiority over Melbourne coach Dean Bailey's highly rated young side.

Both teams named 25-man squads on Thursday night with an average age of 24 and the Kangaroos are quick to point out they're also a young team on the rise.

"Both sides are in the same boat a little bit about can't play finals and certainly that was in our aspirations," Firrito told AAP this week.

"To finish the season at 11 wins and 11 losses, that would have put us in the finals last year so we certainly want to do that.

"We need a hundred per cent effort this week like we had last week for Boomer's (captain Brent Harvey's) 300th.

"In years to come it could be one of the better match-ups, two young sides going head to head and hopefully we can form a great rivalry.

"They've got a very exciting young list and we're just the same if not better in terms of our young guys.

"I guess we'll find out on Sunday afternoon exactly where we're at.

"We've got some beauties coming through (in midfield) and we've also missed a couple of key players like Jack Ziebell, Liam Anthony and Ed Lower.

"Ryan Bastinac and Ben Cunnington, they've been great for us coming through."

Firrito says he has enjoyed spending most of the year in the backline after being frustrated by a lack of consistency in midfield in 2009.

But the backman doesn't rate himself a chance in the best and fairest award, with Harvey shooting for a record fifth win, Andrew Swallow going for consecutive victories and Brady Rawlings a chance for a third title.

Brad Scott said the Kangaroos were bitterly disappointed to be outside the top eight.

"But I believe we have laid a really solid foundation to play the style of footy that's going to be successful deep into September," the Kangaroos coach said.

"I know there's a deep hunger in the group to make sure we're not in this position next year.

"Melbourne are an exciting young list. They've got some young guys and so have we.

"They're just another team that's in our road."

North will farewell forward Corey Jones while Melbourne skipper James McDonald is also bowing out.

Melbourne's Brad Miller is departing but has chosen to stay with VFL team Casey rather than play a farewell game.

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