Midfielder Daniel Wells is slowly regaining more confidence in his body but is taking a level-headed approach leading into the season.
The 30-year-old, who was restricted to 10 games last year after a persistent right foot injury, has shown promising signs in his two NAB Challenge appearances, amassing 11 touches against Adelaide and 26 versus Richmond.
Wells said he’s hoping to have turned a corner after resuming full training in mid-January.
“It’s been a good pre-season, a smart pre-season and we’ll just have to wait and see how it (the foot) goes,” Wells told NMFC.com.au.
“The foot feels much better and I’ve been able to get some good run through my legs.”
Although Wells has shown glimpses of recapturing his best form following a solid pre-season campaign, he’s not getting carried away.
Instead, the 181cm silky midfielder is taking a team-first attitude going into his 13th season at Arden Street.
“Whatever the coach needs me to do, whatever the players need me to do, I’ve been around a long time now so I’ve just got to make sure I play my role within the team,” he said.
Wells said he is particularly excited about playing alongside fellow midfielder Shaun Higgins and will look to complement his playing style.
“He’s going to get a bit more attention but if I can help him as well, we can help each other – it’s not all about me, it’s about the team,” he said.
“He’s come in and had a pretty good start. He’s also been a really good player (at the Western Bulldogs).”
At the start of the year, Wells decided to step down from the Roos’ leadership group, making way for emerging defender Jamie Macmillan.
Wells said he opted to relinquish his leadership group duties so he could spend more time with his family, but will remain actively involved in mentoring and offering advice to his teammates.
“I will still do something similar to what I did (last year) – except for the meetings – and I feel I can help out the younger ones when I can and help them through their first couple of seasons,” he said.
North hasn’t won a round-one match since 2009, when it defeated Melbourne by 34 points at the MCG under then-coach Dean Laidley.
But the number eight said the side’s sluggish starts in recent years are no cause for concern and haven’t been raised in team meetings.
“Everyone knows how important it is to start well. Every club wants to start well and we’re no different to any other club,” Wells said.
“All the guys are a bit stronger this year and also a bit fitter and there’s more confidence in each other’s games, but we all know how difficult it is to maintain that, and the challenge for us is to bring it each week and to give ourselves a chance.”
