North Melbourne key forward Ben Brown has pressed his claims for inclusion in the Kangaroos' round one side with an eye-catching hitout for Werribee.
Brown was one of a number of AFL players looking to prove their fitness in VFL practice matches on the last weekend before the opening round of the season.
The 24-year-old missed all of North's pre-season series games as he recovered from the knee surgery he underwent in January.
He was one of 15 North Melbourne players to take part in a VFL practice match against Sandringham and impressed with three goals.
"It's down to the match committee to decide now ... I think I've put my name forward as well as I could have done," Brown said.
"I haven't got a perfect knee but everyone's got different things going on with their bodies at various stages of their careers.
"But it's feeling as good as it's felt for my whole career really."
Majak Daw booted two goals before suffering an eye injury, with Scott Thompson, Lachie Hansen, Jed Anderson and Sam Wright among the other key Roos to get in extra match practice ahead of their season-opening clash with West Coast.
Essendon tall Cale Hooker is also in the frame for round one after kicking two goals in a VFL practice match against Geelong on Friday night.
Hooker hasn't played since round 23 2015, after serving a doping suspension last season, and has been slowed by a hamstring injury.
"It was good to have a run around and blow a few cobwebs out," Hooker told the club's website.
"I'm feeling really fit ... so I'll definitely be putting my hand up for this week (against Hawthorn).
"We've got the weekend off so I'll be doing a lot of recovery and resting up, then it will be a normal week."
Cats AFL midfielder Cameron Guthrie also took part in the game in a bid to prove he is over the ankle injury he suffered in the first game of the pre-season series.
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