NORTH Melbourne captain Brent Harvey is confident luckless teammate Jesse Smith can still make it at AFL level despite his latest setback all but ending his season.

Smith was playing his second VFL reserves game for North Ballarat when he felt soreness in the hamstring that had kept him sidelined since February's NAB Challenge match against Fremantle.

The 22-year-old had tallied 19 possessions and eight clearances in 47 minutes of game time on Sunday before he was forced from the field.

Harvey said Smith comfortably had the talent to succeed as an AFL player but that his fitness would determine his fate.

"I think he's capable of making it," Harvey said from Arden Street on Tuesday morning. "Whether his body holds up is another question.

"You go back to a couple of years ago against Hawthorn in the final and he was exceptional, probably our best player.

"When he's up and about, he's a very, very good player."

Smith has played just three AFL matches since the semi-final win over the Hawks; the following week's preliminary final loss to Port Adelaide and rounds four and five, 2008.

He had fought back from an ankle injury to play his two games last season but spent the rest of the year grounded by his hamstring.

Harvey spoke to Smith on Sunday night and said it was important the defender didn't let his situation dampen his spirit.

"You could probably write off the year for him now," Harvey said. "You do a hammy and it's four weeks. With his hammy, he's done it a few times so that's probably five or six and [it takes you to] the end of the year.

"He was pretty flat. He's just got to make sure he's up and about around the boys and gets back and does the right thing."

Smith has played 27 games for North since he was drafted as a father-son selection in 2004.