NORTH Melbourne coach Dean Laidley has admitted he promoted star utility Drew Petrie to the leadership group too quickly.

Laidley said Petrie had not been ready for the move when he was first elevated in 2004, but now he is backing last week's best-on-ground against Collingwood as a future club captain.

"He's super, I can't speak highly enough of him," Laidley said on Thursday.

"I probably made a mistake in my second year of putting him into the leadership group.

"He was still pretty raw and that probably affected him for 18 months.

"But we took him out and he sort of gathered his thoughts and matured and now he's one of the key leaders in the football club.

"Could he be a captain one day? I don't see any reason why not."

Petrie has played every game this season, with his performance against the Magpies an obvious highlight – accruing 20 possessions, two goals and 26 hit-outs in the 18-point victory.

Meanwhile, Laidley also suggested veteran rover Brent Harvey – currently second favourite behind Gary Ablett for the Brownlow Medal – could improve even further, at the age of 30.

"He's become a better player each year I've had the pleasure of coaching him," Laidley said.

"The way he goes about it, his work-rate, not only with the football but off the football and winning the contested ball and the pressure that he puts on, he's become such a more rounded player now.

"And he still does the match-winning things which all great players do.

"He's having a terrific year."