The game wasn't pretty but the outcome was a welcome one for North with several key players taking another significant step toward a return to full fitness.

With footy returning to Arden Street for a VFL practice match, Leigh Adams and Nathan Grima headlined a list of Kangaroos playing for Werribee as former development coach John Lamont took the reins for the first time.

“The aim for me was to play three quarters of the game and get through it and hopefully if I pull up okay I could sneak in to play against Geelong this week, but would be a six-day break,” Adams told the Herald Sun's Daryl Timms after the win over Box Hill.

“It’s out of my control but if I pull up all right it will be pointing me in the right direction."

But the crafty mid/forward admitted he's facing an uphill battle to be ready in time for Round 1.

“I’ve been running since the first of January and I’ve done a lot of conditioning work but it’s now more about the football work and the repeat efforts. It will be a race against time and it’s unlikely I’ll be there for Round 1 and hopefully I’ll play another two rounds before then and at least put in back in the selectors’ hands and then it’s up to them.”

Adams booted the first goal of the game but faded out of the contest in a little over 60-minutes of game-time.

Grima meanwhile, was solid in defence and his back stood up well under the intensity.

The most impressive Roo was arguably Kayne Turner who didn't look out of place against his bigger bodied opponents.

Levi Greenwood had plenty of the footy while the big men in Majak Daw, Ben Brown and Eric Wallace struggled to have a major impact due to the windy conditions and poor delivery into the forward line.

Mason Wood found his share of the ball but his disposal let him down at times.

North coach Brad Scott was a keen observer as well as many other club notables including Daniel Wells, Drew Petrie, Michael Firrito, Todd Goldstein, Geoff Walsh and Carl Dilena.

Match highlights will be available on NMFC.com.au on Monday.