North stalwart Drew Petrie says forwards are having to “re-invent” themselves each year, in order to keep up with the changing AFL landscape.

Petrie, who will play his 294th game on Saturday night, said different game plans and tactics meant players were working towards building different body shapes and increased fitness levels as each season came around.

“I just want to be able to move around the ground,” Petrie told Triple M’s Rush Hour.

“The guys that have been mentioned in the media, those guys who have lost weight, are probably at the older end of the scale as well, and we are certainly aware of our situation and having to make sure we re-invent ourselves as forwards each year.”

The number 20 said with young players rising through the ranks, there was no time for rest in the pre-season for the veterans.

“There’s no getting out of sessions, missing the running or going home early after training. You’re expected to do more, almost,” he said.

“You’ve got young blokes snapping at your heels now. You want to make sure you’re keeping up with the game and staying ahead of the game so they don’t take your spot.”

The 33-year-old played in all of North Melbourne’s NAB Challenge clashes, leading all players in goals scored across the pre-season competition.

Despite the promising form, Petrie played down the feat.

“I played all three games, so I probably should have [kicked the most goals] and I play at full forward, so I probably should have as well.”

With Round 1 just days away, Petrie said North players knew there was still plenty of work to do on the training track.

“The second half against Hawthorn in that NAB game was pretty ordinary,” he said.

“So, it was probably good timing. Often you can think you’re going OK throughout the summer, then you get a little touch up by the reigning premier and it just sort of straightens you out a bit.”

Petrie’s off-field membership recruiting drive was also drawing plenty of attention, with his recent call to ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger’ a hit on social media.

Petrie and teammates Michael Firrito and Sam Durdin fell victims to a practical joke, thinking they were calling celebrities, when they were actually on the line to celebrity impersonator Ben Price.

“I’m happy to be laughed at,” he said.