NORTH Melbourne coach Dean Laidley doesn't think Kangaroos great Brent Harvey is feeling the pressure of being the club's new skipper.

When asked post-match if he thought Harvey's quieter start to the season was due to him now being captain, Laidley said: "I wouldn't have thought so."

"He's fairly experienced and we'll continue to work with 'Boomer' and if it is and that's the case, then he's got enough mates around him in 'Drewy' [Petrie], 'Pratty' [Daniel Pratt], Brady [Rawlings] and the rest of the leadership group," he said.

"And other guys like [Michael] Firrito, [David] Hale and [Daniel] Wells and those types of guys [will] support 'Boomer'.”

After setting lofty expectations throughout his stellar career, particularly in 2007-08, Harvey has started the season with two quieter performances against run-with players: Melbourne's Clint Bartram and now Bulldog first-gamer Liam Picken.

Harvey had 16 touches against Bartram and 18 on Picken, but failed to have his usual influence on either contest.