After two solid performances in the NAB Cup, North ruckman Daniel Currie says he’s more comfortable than ever before in the AFL system.

“Physically I feel a lot more ready with a few pre-seasons under my belt and hopefully the worst of my injuries behind me.  So from that point of view, I suppose you’ve got a lot more confidence in your body and I suppose your ability to match it with the more mature bodies as well,” he told Michael Christian and Mick McGuane from RSN Racing and Sport on Monday morning.

While he has been performing well, the former Sydney Swan listed player is reluctant to get caught up in talk about taking over at North’s number one ruck.

“… it’s been pretty positive these first two weeks so to have an impact on Saturday up in Townsville and also against Richmond, so personally it’s been a positive start with the feedback I’ve received but in terms of the match committee’s thinking on things, I’m not a hundred per cent sure on where everything sits at the moment.”

Currie puts his improvement down to all the work he’s done in the gym at Aegis Park.

“I think I definitely have made a lot of strength gains since I’ve been at North Melbourne and back in the system so that’s probably been the one area I’ve felt I’ve improved and I’ve felt that’s helped my game in the last two weeks.  Just being able to, I suppose, hold my ground a lot more at the stoppages and stuff has been really pleasing.”

With the likes of Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Ryan Bastinac and Daniel Wells at his feet at the stoppages, the 200cm Roo is relishing the opportunity to play in the royal blue and white stripes.

“That’s what I base my game on really, giving the mids (midfielders) first use and really cracking in and giving a strong, aggressive contest in the ruck and the rest will take care of itself.”

But Currie has also shown his ability to play in front of the goals, giving Brad Scott more flexibility.

“If I’m thrown forward I feel confident enough to have an impact.  I was pleased to pinch-hit down there on the weekend and kick two goals.  I definitely feel like I’m a ruckman and feel more comfortable in there but if there’s an opportunity to be there in the side and have an impact up forward as well as playing in the ruck then I’d grab it with both hands.”

While North came away with a 13-point win over Gold Coast in Townsville on Saturday, Currie acknowledges there’s plenty of work to be done after the Suns came home strong.

“We started super well and everything we wanted to implement, we did right from the start.  I think after three-quarter time, whether it was a bit of experimentation from the coaches or the conditions that might have played a factor, it was a bit disappointing to leak six goals late in the game, so we sort of felt that 13-points wasn’t a true reflection on how the game went.

“It is a bit of a concern not to have a bit more of an impact on the scoreboard in the second half, but we were pretty happy with our first three and a half quarters.”