North Melbourne's senior players went head to head at Arden Street Oval on Saturday in the club's annual official intraclub.

Cam Zurhaar led the goalscorers with five, while draftees Finn O'Sullivan and Matt Whitlock built on their promising pre-seasons, and second-year player Taylor Goad played a half in the ruck. Here are five things we learned from the match.

1. Finn O'Sullivan could make an early impact

Few passages of play in Saturday's official intraclub were more exciting for Kangaroos fans than the first-quarter move that ended in trade recruit Caleb Daniel lasering a pass to draftee O'Sullivan, 40m out from goal.

The No.2 pick in November's AFL Draft, O'Sullivan has impressed during his first pre-season. He looked assured when matching up against his senior teammates at Arden St, working into space and earning plenty of the ball playing mainly forward of centre.

National recruiting and retention manager Will Thursfield told the live broadcast he expected O'Sullivan to spend time on the wing or as an outside midfielder in his debut season.

"He's got such a great natural tank," Thursfield said. "It's a good way to ease him into it rather than being at the coalface." 

2. Get set for Colby McKercher 2.0

Having averaged 23.8 touches across 16 appearances across half-back in his first season, McKercher appears ready to evolve into a new role further forward in 2025.

McKercher's blistering pace, as showcased in November's time trial, has always been a weapon, and he used it to full effect during the intraclub. In an eye-catching passage in the second quarter, he lit the afterburners in the centre square, taking a bounce before lacing a pass at full sprint to find Jacob Konstanty inside 50.

Expect to see much more of McKercher on the wing and in the forward half this season.

3. Cam Zurhaar might thrive in a flexible forward line

Zurhaar (five goals) and Nick Larkey (three) were the beneficiaries of a new-look Kangaroos forward line, bolstered by the club's trade activity.

Experienced recruits Jack Darling and Luke Parker add depth and versatility to the Roos' attacking unit, with Darling now drawing a key defender, and Parker also able to play in a deep forward position. Both recruits played their parts on Saturday, kicking a goal each while creating more space in which Zurhaar and Larkey could operate.

Luke Davies-Uniacke also showed the class he contributes when pushing forward by threading a goal of the day contender from the right forward pocket at the city end. 

4. There's no love lost in an intraclub

Saturday's match might have pitted teammate against teammate, but there were few punches pulled as both sides hit the ground determined to replicate a high-intensity AFL clash.

Zane Duursma was briefly worse for the wear after a collision with Bailey Scott in the third quarter, while Will Phillips and Jackson Archer were among the Roos laying heavy tackles. Small forward Cooper Harvey (three goals) was a serial agitator for the pink team, exchanging words with Charlie Comben and Tristan Xerri.

5. Robert Hansen jnr is making his case

Hansen jnr became a Kangaroo the hard way, joining as a rookie in the 2023 mid-season draft and waiting until late last season before stringing together a handful of senior games.

He was a dynamic contributor in the blue team's forward line on Saturday, combining his natural pace with clean ball movement and creativity.

If the young West Australian wasn't already on coach Alastair Clarkson's shortlist for a potential Round 1 place, he did his prospects no harm with a sensational second-quarter goal. Winning the ball at left-half-forward, he engaged turbo mode, took two bounces and finished coolly on the run from 30m.