NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott believes his team is training with increased intensity since it went to Utah, and defender Nathan Grima is one of the players who is giving the pre-season extra bite.

Grima won the two-kilometre time trial at Aberfeldie on Monday and Scott is delighted with what he is seeing.

"Nathan has worked very hard to fight back strongly from a disappointing year with regards to a serious back injury, and is one of the fittest players at the club," Scott told The Age.

Grima managed just 12 games in 2011 because of the injury.
 
Scott said former Hawk Will Sierakowski and forward Sam Wright were also leading the way on the track.

"Will Sierakowski came to the club and had an immediate impact, winning several trials, and now we're seeing him challenged by the likes of Nathan, Sam and Lachlan Hansen," he said.

"Nathan won the time trial [on Monday] and has been exceptional, while Sam has really taken a lot of people by surprise with his improved endurance. To see him constantly in the top five is really encouraging.

"[Wright] spent some time out with a shoulder injury toward the end of last year and we really encouraged him to improve his running capacity and conditioning. As a result, he came back from the post-season break in the best shape he's ever been in."

Meanwhile, North Melbourne's newest recruit Brad McKenzie was given little time to settle on his first day at Aegis Park.

The 18 year-old told kangaroos.com.au: "I flew over from Adelaide yesterday afternoon, visited the club for a tour and then went straight to my new host family.

"It's been an awesome first day so far and I feel like I'm starting to settle in. The boys have been really welcoming and make you feel a part of the club straight away.

"Getting out on the oval for training with all the players has definitely been the highlight so far."

Taken by North with its first-round selection in the national draft, McKenzie said it was an exciting and emotional time for him and his family after hearing his name read out.

"I was really shell shocked after the draft; I didn’t know what to think because it was all pretty overwhelming," McKenzie recalled.

"It took until [Monday morning] when I got to training for everything to sink in.'

Shortly after his name was called out, recently retired champion Brady Rawlings called McKenzie to welcome him and has already become a mentor.

"I’ll definitely learn a lot from Brady, especially since I play off half-back and he played in defence last year.

"As my mentor at the club I know he'll be a huge help to me with my footy and beyond that."

Fellow North Melbourne draftee Tom Curran was forced to watch McKenzie from the sidelines as he recovers from a foot injury

The 18-year-old key-position player was selected at No.40 and is keen to develop a friendly rivalry with McKenzie once he resumes running shortly after Christmas.

"Brad (McKenzie) and I are starting to get stuck into the weights and things now so the novelty of getting drafted is sort of out the window," Curran said.

"I was watching him (McKenzie) out there yesterday and wanted to be out there with him. I reckon we'll drive each other pretty well. It'll be good a little rivalry there."

Below: New recruit Brad McKenzie at his first training session with the Roos (pics by North Melbourne Media)