North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley was a happy man after watching his side defeat Essendon in the NAB series practice match at Bendigo on Friday.

The Roos defeated the Bombers 17.14 (116) to 15.10 (100) in front of a small crowd.

Laidley was particularly pleased to round out the club's pre-season with a win, but even more delighted that he will have close to a full list for the opening match of the season.

"We're very lucky that we have no injuries going into the season opener," he said.

"That is one of the things that makes a coach happy."

Laidley said defender Daniel Pratt was likely to play next week after injuring his ribs in the NAB Cup loss to Carlton.

The Kangaroos hopped away to a 31-point quartertime lead thanks to the centre clearance work of Michael Firrito, Brent Harvey and the unheralded Ed Lower.

It was a lead that the Roos maintained throughout the second quarter until late goals from David Hille and Andrew Lovett reduced the margin to 21 points at the main break.

In the third quarter, the Bombers got on top through some excellent centre clearance work from Hayden Skipworth, Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson and Sam Lonergan.

They were able to eventually sneak to a four-point lead by the last change thanks to goals from Jay Nash, Alwyn Davey and Skipworth to end the quarter.

A Dustin Fletcher long bomb allowed the Bombers to open up a 10-point buffer early in the last quarter.

However, the Roos were able to lift, with their better players in Daniel Wells, Brent Harvey, Ed Lower and Leigh Harding helping the team to five unanswered goals.

A late Scott Lucas goal reduced the margin to 16 points.

Laidley was full praise for his team's first quarter, which helped set up the win.

"I was really happy with our first quarter, the intensity and the way we moved the ball," he said.

"In the third quarter we stuffed a few things up that we had to fix up in the last quarter."

Firrito was one the best for the Roos in a role that Laidley hopes to use him in during the season.

"His pre-season in the midfield for us has been outstanding and we would like to play (him) there when the season starts," Laidley said.

"It will be a case of taking a punt on some our young defenders and I thought that Hansen at CHB (centre half back) was great again tonight."

Others to win praise from Laidley were Gavin Urquhart through the midfield and Josh Gibson down back.

In a blow for the Bombers, Jobe Watson (knock to head) and David Myers (ankle) were grounded by quartertime.

Henry Slattery also left the field before halftime with an ankle injury and left the ground later on crutches.

In a positive for the Bombers, Andrew Lovett, Courtney Dempsey, Hayden Skipworth and Brent Stanton all had good games.

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