The 227-game defender’s strength and versatility has reaffirmed him as one of North’s most important players.
“I’m feeling good. Last year I was feeling like a 40-year-old and sore and didn’t know where I was going,” he told Fox Footy.
“Now I’m feeling like Boomer Harvey again, feeling young and able to train and do all those things.”
Out of contract next year, Firrito hopes he can prolong his career at Arden Street.
“Hopefully we can go on again and see where the footy club is at.
“We’ll soon see. I’ve got a big couple of months of football left hopefully, so we’ll see how we go.
12 months, Firrito’s admits he felt his time was up. Playing in the VFL with Werribee, he was no longer in North’s best 22.
“It’s a long time 12 months. I guess at that stage of my career I thought it might have been over.
“I was 29. I was in the twos. It’s pretty easy to cast judgments, thinking ‘where’s he at?’.”
If he needed any clarification, Firrito received a clear sign.
“I certainly knew I was coming to the end because I was getting three or four missed calls from local clubs seeing about my services,” he joked.
He wasn’t done yet though. Recalled in Round 22, he was handed the huge task matching up on Collingwood powerhouse Travis Cloke. Despite playing well, Firrito’s future looked dim at the Roos.
However a move at the trade table changed his fortunes.
“Luke Delaney went for another offer at St Kilda with more opportunities and fortunately for me that was the spot I took on the list in the end.”
With the likes of Joel Tippett, Nathan Grima, Lachlan Hansen and Scott Thompson on the list, getting a game in 2014 looked just as tough. But Firrito has become vital to North’s return to the finals and is averaging 17 disposals a game and five marks.
“At the start of the year I wasn’t in our best 22. I came in Round 4 against Sydney at the SCG and slowly worked from there. It’s been a long build, but it’s great to be back playing good football.
“I was able to do a full pre-season and that’s helped me get to the form that I have been.”
