North Melbourne will return luckless forward Mason Wood to the AFL on Saturday night against Fremantle.
Woood will play for the first time since last July after being named to face the Dockers at Domain Stadium.
The winless Roos have rested ruckman Braydon Preuss and dropped Nathan Hrovat for debutant Ed Vickers-Willis.
Wood has managed just 16 games in four full seasons on North Melbourne's senior list. Coach Chris Scott said he was delighted to have the 23-year-old available for the first time this year.
The Geelong Falcons product had been set back by a number of injuries but Scott said it was just bad luck.
"I've never been in any doubt (about his talent) and neither has he," he said.
"I wouldnt say he's injury prone ... he had someone fall on his knee last year once he'd really emerged in the senior team and a couple of setbacks this year.
"He's a really resilient type of guy - a terrific athlete. I'm sure when he gets a bit of luck, he'll get a consistent run at it and show everyone how good he can be."
Scott will also give 2014 draftee Vickers-Willis his first taste of senior football against the Dockers.
"He's probably done enough to make his debut the last few weeks but we've been shuffling our midfield and where he's going to play," Scott said.
Scott said the Dockers would be tough to match up on, given the "unique" threat of Fremantle ruck Aaron Sandilands and the recent injection of running power into the side.
"Against the Bulldogs and Melbourne, they moved the ball really impressively and, again, it's that exuberance of youth," he said.
"We're certainly going to have to be at our best to match them."
Share
