North Melbourne Director of Football Geoff Walsh says the club will field a strong lineup in its final NAB Challenge match against Richmond on Saturday.
The Roos have used 35 players in their past two pre-season matches against Adelaide and Hawthorn, with Jarrad Waite, Shaun Higgins, Trent Dumont and Daniel Nielson all playing their first games for the club.
Walsh said North will continue to rotate players in preparation for the team’s season opener against the Crows on April 5.
“With only three NAB (Challenge) games in the series now, I think we would be looking to put in what in the old days you’d call a full dress rehearsal,” Walsh told SEN's Hungry for Sport program on Monday.
“I think everyone who’s ready and everyone who’s in the frame (will be considered) and given that we can play two extra players in this game as opposed to the regular season, there’s an opportunity to play a couple of extras there.”
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Despite the club's efforts in the finals series last year, Walsh said North still has “a fair bit of work to go” if it wants to be considered among the competition's best.
“The greatest thing that Brad (Scott) and the coaches have tried to impress upon the players is that last year’s result is not going to be good enough, we have to get better,” he said.
“One thing we can guarantee is every other side is going to be getting better around us.”
Walsh said veteran Brent Harvey, who will reach his 400-game milestone in round 17 against the Brisbane Lions should he feature in every game, has not lost any of his agility, skill and aerobic capacity.
“People will look back on Brent’s career and he’ll be remembered as one of the great players of the competition,” Walsh said, citing Harvey’s longevity in the game after completing his 20th pre-season.
“The two things that stand out about Brent for me is that one, he still has an enormous love for the game... and in an on-field sense, his running ability, his side-step (and) his acceleration at his age hasn’t gone down once inch.”
Walsh said the club has also been encouraged by its growing membership tally – which has ticked over 31,000 – with a target of securing approximately 43,000 members.
“We achieved a club record last year of just over 40,000,” he said.
“The result against Hawthorn 10 days ago (in the NAB Challenge) should encourage people that they’re going to be following a team that’s going to have a good season, hopefully.”
'A full dress rehearsal'
Director of Football Geoff Walsh says North Melbourne will field a strong lineup on Saturday.