THE DEPARTURE of two mentors has given North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas a greater sense of independence ahead of his third season.

At the heart of it is a desire for the 20-year-old to get the most out of himself, something that was so often encouraged by decorated veteran Shannon Grant and indigenous teammate Eddie Sansbury.

With Grant calling time on his 301-game career and Sansbury delisted after 40 games in five years, Thomas admits the pre-season has been different for their absence.

"Rocking up in the change-rooms where Shagga (Grant) used to sit across from me and not being able to hear him say one of his smart remarks feels a bit strange," he said. "And looking at where Eddie used to sit next to us.

"But I guess that's how footy goes. We'll probably be friends for a while and keep up that good relationship."

Thomas has quickly become a key figure in the Roos' attack, kicking 42 goals from 35 games, including every game of the 2008 season.

Sansbury followed a similar course to Thomas and fellow small forward Matt Campbell, starting in the SANFL competition before crossing to North in the 2003 national draft.

Thomas played six league matches with the Port Adelaide Magpies while Campbell, rookie-listed initially, had a full season with North Adelaide to catch the eye of recruiters.

"I had the experience of playing against older blokes and it kind of helped me a bit. But when I first got here I was only skinny and I had to build up," Thomas said, adding that Sansbury was bench-pressing a club-high 150kg this year.

"Eddie just took me and Matty Campbell under his wing and even though he didn't play in the seniors, he was always making sure that we were doing all the good things and all the right things. He's probably helped me become the player I am today.

"All the indigenous boys here are pretty close to Eddie. We probably go see him every day because he's just around the corner from me. And my partner and his partner are pretty good friends as well."

Thomas noted that he would see less of Grant given his coaching role with VFL club Frankston, but that Grant often called him and Campbell and invited them out for meals.

With his mother in Adelaide and father in Alice Springs, having family visit has also helped Thomas through his first two years and he looks forward to the two-week Christmas break that follows the solid block of pre-season training.

"It's going really well," Thomas, who lives with his girlfriend Hannah, said. "The boys came back in pretty good shape so everybody's fitter than they probably were at this time last year.

"The last two years I was probably still learning – and I'm still learning this year – but if I just get this one under my belt, hopefully I can have a good year.

"Our fitness coach Paul Turk wants to build me and Matty up a bit so we can hopefully get a run in the midfield more this year. We've been getting pretty punished in the weights room.

"We just want to work on our upper body strength and core area so when we get in the midfield we can take off without getting bumped over."