Kieran Harper is all too aware of the predicament he faces in 2014.

Such is the brutal nature of the AFL landscape, the 21 year-old admits despite having a two-year contract, he simply must perform after a year he’d rather forget.

“I don't know whether the pressure got to me or not, but I think it was definitely the season (2013) I had to have in terms of making sure that the hard work gets done again,” Harper told the Herald Sun’s Daryl Timms.

Having played 23 games last year, the exciting small-forward was considered one of North’s rising stars. But a drop in form and an untimely ankle injury restricted him to just three matches.

“I played some good footy before my ankle but it was a struggle from then and you can't blame injury.

“I was pretty frustrated and was going out playing more angry footy in a way, ¬because I knew I could play but it just wasn't happening.”

Harper ultimately struggled to find enough of the football to have an impact early in the home and away season and despite several appearances as an emergency wasn’t able to win back his spot. It was a struggle trying to keep positive.

“It was a frustrating year; and I'd go home and I didn't really want to talk about it with my brother (Tim) and told him I just wanted to come home and be free of footy,” he added.

“He got pretty annoyed about it because he just really wanted to help me out, but this pre-season is going to be a fresh start in terms of just being able to relax and re-energise.for another year.”

The arrival of Robin Nahas from Richmond adds even more competition for spots, piling further pressure on Harper to turn things around.

That opportunity begins now, in Utah.

"There will be 44 players there when the draftees get there and it will be a bonding experience but there will be definitely hard work with the training process."