North Melbourne veteran Jarrad Waite is unsure if this will be his last AFL campaign but he is absolutely certain he wants to make it count.
Waite played the first 12 games of the 2016 season as North surged to the top of the ladder but was restricted to just two appearances in the last 11 games as a hip injury took its toll and the Roos' season petered out.
The former Blue managed 23 games for the Roos in 2015 after his switch from Carlton and he's confident surgery and a carefully managed pre-season will allow him to achieve a similar tally this season.
"I had the surgery and tried to get right for the finals but it wasn't quite there, but I was fully fit for the start of training," Waite said.
"But I'm feeling alright - we've just got to manage it.
"I've had a good chat with Brad (Scott) and the fitness staff to work out the best possible way for me to play a full season.
"That's the plan now."
The Roos are counting on his body to hold up after the departure of stalwart Drew Petrie for West Coast.
A lot of responsibility will fall on Waite's shoulders, but he showed he's still capable of delivering with his five-goal haul in the final pre-season hitout.
Waite, who turned 34 in February and has played 221 games, is approaching the finish line of his career but he's trying to leave it as open-ended as he can.
"I treat every season like it's the last one," he said.
"Obviously with my age that does come into mind but I just go out every game now thinking this could potentially be my last one.
"I've probably done that for the last few years. I guess you don't want to get complacent. At any stage of your football career it only takes one injury and that could be it. That's probably more relevant now than it was (back then).
"Whether that happens or not, I don't know. But I'm just really looking forward to having a full season."
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