He'd barely touched the footy and by his own admission hadn't worked hard enough but, when the big moment came, Mason Wood was ready.
The North Melbourne key forward played a pivotal role in Sunday's nailbiting win over Carlton at Etihad Stadium, booting two goals when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter.
Leading by 45 points midway through the second term, the Roos conceded nine of the next 10 goals and found themselves trailing early in the final term.
The Blues looked set to produce a comeback for the ages before Wood - who was virtually unseen to three-quarter time - broke away from his man, took a leading mark and slotted the set shot from 50m to put North back in front.
He soon had his second, clunking another strong mark and kicking truly from close range to extend the Roos' lead after Shaun Atley's crumbing goal.
"I felt sort of fresh because I hadn't really got near it much," Wood told AAP.
"I was pretty confident when I was having the shot that I would kick it, or that I had the legs at least.
"The second one was probably more nerve-wracking. It was the one that I should kick, and thank God I did.
"I guess it was one of those days where you just felt like you couldn't get near it,
"I probably wasn't working hard enough early, and showed that I still had a little bit left in the tank.
"In the end it worked out alright but I've got to work on working a little bit harder earlier."
Wood has been in solid touch since making his AFL return during North's round five loss to Fremantle, having been sidelined by injuries for the better part of the previous nine months.
The Roos are understandably bullish about Wood's potential, with coach Brad Scott saying the 23-year-old has earned a spot in their best 22.
"We've been pretty keen to get him back out there, We just haven't had him fit for long enough," Scott said.
"There are players that probably concede and just think it's not their day ... I thought Mason, while he didn't have a great day.
"He probably stood up when it counted."
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