Daniel Wells has proved reports of his football death were exaggerated with a four-goal first half in North Melbourne's intra-club game at Arden Street on Friday afternoon.

Wells has endured a horrific run of injury over the past two seasons, with a Lisfranc foot injury limiting him to 10 games in 2014 and Achilles soreness sidelining him for all bar two games last year.

Some pondered whether Wells, who turned 31 recently, was nearing the end of his career, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2016.

But the two-time club best and fairest winner showed on Friday there was good football left in him.

Wells moved with his signature grace and was deadly in front of goal, converting all of his chances in the first half.

An intercept mark in the first quarter from a Jack Ziebell kick underlined just how sharp the veteran was.

The midfielder spent much of his time forward of centre, but ran hard defensively too before sitting out the final quarter as part of a carefully managed transition back to full match fitness.

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Jed Anderson also showed glimpses of why North was so keen to snare him in last year's trade period, breaking the game open at times with his speed.

The former Hawk kicked two first-half goals and supplied one of the game's highlights, taking off from the wing in the second quarter and running to within 25m of goal and converting.

Friday game's pitted North's over-25s against their youngsters, with the senior Roos prevailing 14.10 (94) to 10.5 (65).

Luke McDonald and Jamie Macmillan were stingy in defence for the under-25s, while ruck duo Majak Daw and Braydon Preuss battled hard over three quarters against Todd Goldstein, even if the 2015 All Australian's class around the ground was telling.

Skipper Andrew Swallow (knees) and vice-captain Jack Ziebell (shoulder) both made promising returns from injury, while former Saint Farren Ray showed he will add valuable depth to the Roos' midfield ranks in 2016.

Ryan Clarke was the pick of the Roos' 2015 draftees, impressing with his run around the ground, while Mitch Hibberd and Declan Mountford kicked handy goals.

The match was played in warm conditions and feelings between the two teams occasionally boiled over into some push and shove, and the tackling was at times ferocious.