When asked to rate Wednesday’s intra-club match in Ballarat, North captain Brent Harvey didn’t hesitate.

“The depth in the midfield I thought was really good with Garlett, Greenwood, Ziebell, Swallow, Anthony, Wells, Atley, Adams and Campbell all doing plenty.

“The work rate of the boys was great and the benefits of Utah really showed.”

In his sixteenth pre-season, Harvey was upbeat and excited about the club’s prospects in 2011.

The inspirational leader led by example throughout the shortened four quarter scratch match and says the young Roos were extremely impressive.

“I thought with Hamish McIntosh out, Todd Goldstein was exceptional and really dominated late in the game. That’s when his fitness came through and he collected heaps of the ball all over the ground.

"Robbie Tarrant and Luke Delaney were pretty solid down back and Edwards, Thomas and McKinley kicked 14 goals between them. Now it’s going to be hard to squeeze them all in for round one when you consider that there’s also Warren, Petrie, Hansen and hopefully myself to go in as well.”

And Harvey also pointed out the players still to come back in to the side this season.

“Overall, I thought it was an exciting hit-out considering we had Firrito, Thompson, Wright, Grima, McIntosh, Cunnington, McMahon, Rawlings and Bastinac all on the sidelines after having good seasons in 2010.

“Personally, I felt really, really good. I played about 90 percent of the game and didn’t want to come off at all in the final quarter.”