FOR PROBABLY the first time in his career, North Melbourne vice-captain Drew Petrie can prepare for a season knowing what position he'll be playing.

Throughout his 176 matches, Petrie has been North's polyfilla: used as a ruckman, tall defender, key forward and, even on a couple of occasions this year, a wingman.

But after playing the bulk of 2009 in the Roos' struggling attack - and leading their goalkicking - Petrie was told by new coach Brad Scott that was where he was staying.

"Brad let me know that when we first had our meeting back in September. He said, 'I want you to play forward' so I was happy with that," Petrie said.

"All the training drills I've been playing as a forward. With blokes like Nathan Grima, Scott Thompson and Lachie Hansen being able to hold down key positions, it just allows me to have a crack in the forward half."

Petrie said North's goal-to-goal line was almost settled, with Thompson and Grima set for full-back and centre half-back, Hansen to play on the quicker tall forwards and Hamish McIntosh and Todd Goldstein to carry the ruck.

He also backed David Hale, who finished 2009 in the VFL, to return to form at full-forward.

However, Petrie admitted the pre-season had brought some anxiety about his own place in the side because of the continued emergence of his teammates and the prospect of change under Scott.

"I've been nervous and paranoid that I'm not going to be fit enough so you're always doing that bit extra," he said. "I think I'm the fifth oldest in age, so it's not a time to take it easy.

"It's a time to accelerate because there are guys who can play in your position. I'm 10 years in now, so you need to keep on improving.

"When Glenn Archer finished, in his last year in 2007 he was running as good as he was in his peak. There are no excuses for slowing down."

Petrie expected the list would face a similar transition to what was experienced under former coach Dean Laidley; from his first season in 2003 to the club's preliminary final berth in 2007.

For Scott, it has started with the addition of eight new players in the recent national and rookie drafts.

"You compare our list to back in '07 when we made a prelim and I reckon there might six to 10 blokes left," Petrie said. "It's a very positive thing.

"[Now] we start not necessarily from the bottom but from 13th and we work our way up."

Petrie added that Scott had earned the immediate respect of the players throughout the pre-Christmas training block.

Though part of that had come with the tough-as-nails reputation Scott built in a decorated career with the Brisbane Lions, his demeanour as a coach had also been very encouraging.

"He hasn't been up in our faces ranting and raving as such yet," Petrie said. "He's been calculated [and] educational with anything that he's trying to teach us.

"We've got to learn a whole new game plan under Brad. He's been really good.

"I've found him great. He's given me extra time off for my honeymoon as well so I'm not complaining."

Petrie won't be available for selection until round three of the new season as he serves a suspension for striking Port Adelaide's Alipate Carlile.