Forward Mason Wood has a better understanding of what is required of him in the North squad following his lengthy stint at VFL level last year.

The 22-year-old made a promising start to 2015 by playing six of the first eight matches for the Roos but spent the rest of the season, excluding round 23, with Werribee.

Wood said he had benefited from his time in the VFL after some initial disappointment.

"Having that little reality check last year was helpful moving forward," Wood told NMFC.com.au.

"You've always got to be working to get better. It sounds pretty simple but I was working to just play well on the weekends rather than working on a certain part of my game at training and drilling that."

Wood has since made the most of his opportunities, profiting from a full pre-season campaign and demanding a senior spot by starring in three VFL appearances, including a trial match against Footscray to kick-start the season.

The 13-gamer has cut back his wing-forward role after dividing his time last season between attack and the wing, and said settling into a sole forward position had boosted his spirits.

"Having eyes set on that one position and trying to play really well in that one position has helped immensely," he said, citing his work rate, improved defensive traits and ability to play on both small and tall opponents as his key strengths in attack.

North coach Brad Scott recently described Wood as a "critical component" to the Roos' future and forward Drew Petrie agreed wholeheartedly.

"He adds something different because he's not a key forward and he's not your typical small half-forward type of player, but he's a very good running and marking player," Petrie said on Wednesday.

"I saw him against Footscray and he dominated – he took marks, kicked goals, laid tackles, did it all really well – so he's been able to transfer good pre-season form into good in-season form, which is hard to do."

Wood's quest to play more games for North suffered a slight hiccup against Essendon in round eight, when he was left heavily concussed and stretchered off after landing head-first in a courageous pack mark.

The 192cm left-footer said he was pleased to be back performing well after missing rounds nine and 10 with concussion.

"The last couple of weeks have been good to get a bit of continuity," he said, before turning his attention to Friday night's blockbuster against Hawthorn.

North and the Hawks renew hostilities on the back of a fierce round five clash last season, which saw skipper Luke Hodge sent to the Tribunal and slapped with a three-game ban for elbowing counterpart Andrew Swallow’s jaw in the first term.

Tempers flared again 10 minutes later after Hawks vice-captain Jordan Lewis was booked for his coathanger on Roos ruckman Todd Goldstein, and handed a two-match penalty.

Although Hodge is still on the mend from a knee injury, Wood said he expected the clash to be just as hotly contested as the last.

"I imagine it'd be pretty fiery … but we've just got to play to our structures and execute well," he said.

"If we play the way that we have been during the year, it'll hold us in good stead."