Mason Wood Biography

The Saints throw Mason Wood an AFL lifeline, adding the former North Melbourne forward to their list via the Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period.

"Once the dust had settled post-draft, we identified that adding depth to our forward line was something that was probably the priority, if the right person was available," St Kilda list manager James Gallagher said.

"We invited Mason to training about three weeks ago, and in the short time he's been here, he's gelled really nicely with our group, impressed all with his attitude and performances at training, and he shows a real determination to have another crack at senior level."

After being delisted by the Kangaroos, Mason Wood has been given a chance to revive his AFL career after being invited to train with St Kilda.

Injury-free North Melbourne discard Mason Wood is putting himself through an early pre-season in the hope of winning an AFL lifeline.

"Every time I looked at it and thought, 'Whatever way I can get back in, I feel like I've got a point to prove, I've got plenty more AFL footy left in me'," he said.

"I had a few conversations about (playing) VFL or state leagues and I'll definitely go down that path if it doesn't work out with the AFL. If I have to spend a year in the VFL to get back onto a list that's what I'll do."

Following a disastrous 2020 campaign where the Kangaroos finished second-last on the ladder, North Melbourne begins a savage cull of its list with eleven players delisted.

Leadership group members Jamie Macmillan and Jasper Pittard are among them, while Majak Daw's incredible comeback from serious injuries sustained two years ago looks over.

Ben Jacobs, Paul Ahern, Mason Wood, Sam Durdin, Marley Williams, Joel Crocker, Lachie Hosie, and Tom Murphy round out the Kangaroos' delistings.

After winning North Melbourne's time trial, Mason Wood says he has reassessed the way he prioritises his football life after being put up for trade this year.

"It was very strange initially but after the first couple of days, you realise this is footy and you have to take it for what it is and see what the best options are for me and work that out," Wood said.

"That was to stay here, so I'm very happy to be here. It maybe makes you question where you're at and maybe change a few things up that you do.

"Just how I set up my day and being a little more run to schedule and really blocking out times for things I find are important, instead of just saying I'll get to them at the end of the day and maybe doing them a bit half-arsed."

Mason Wood's future at North Melbourne is uncertain with clubs believing the goalkicker could be put on the market at season's end.

Wood is contracted for next season with North Melbourne and has played 17 games this season, but has been surprisingly dropped for this week's clash with Port Adelaide.

Wood will become a free agent next year, so the Roos could look to maximise his value by taking offers this year.

Mason Wood is not feeling sorry for himself despite having managed just over 40 games thus far in seven years of an AFL career cruelled by injury.

"That's footy. I could get angry, but how does that help me play good footy?" Wood said.

"Some blokes might bottle it up and go 'That's what's going to drive me' but if that's what you need to drive you, then you're going to be finding yourself out of the team in order to play good footy.

"I want to play good footy off the back of what we do at training week-to-week and my own internal motivations. It is disappointing, but at the same time, you can't get bogged down in it or sidetracked from the big picture."

Mason Wood will be sidelined for up to three weeks after fracturing his left thumb during an intraclub game.

"He doesn't require surgery and the crack is very small and the injury overall a minor one," North football manager Cameron Joyce said.

"We expect him to be available for round one as he'll be able to complete all of the strength and conditioning components of the program."

Mason Wood's 2018 goal is simple: he just wants to play in round one.

Wood has never been part of the Roos' season-opening side in his five years at the club due to injuries.

"It's been about me being able to make that round one side and be fit for the whole year," Wood said.

"I've taken a little bit of the foot off the pedal (this pre-season) for a few things and making sure the body is as good as it can be at this time of the year and moving forward."

Mason Wood is poised to return for North Melbourne against Fremantle night after a horror run of injury.

"Provided he gets through training today he'll play in the seniors. He's done a power of work, so it's not an issue of whether he's ready or not," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"It's a matter of whether medically he's absolutely got the final tick off and we're not putting him at undue risk."

Mason Wood has declared himself ready to make his long-awaited AFL return after emerging unscathed from his VFL comeback.

"You never know after you have a couple of little setbacks back to back whether you're going to be able to get through a full game, but I got through and that's the most important thing," he said.

Mason Wood has suffered another injury setback, with a knee injury set to sideline him for three weeks.

“Scans revealed a tiny bone fragment floating in his knee joint that was unrelated to the previous hamstring injury. As a result, Mason underwent a minor arthroscope on Tuesday to wash it out," Kangaroos football manager Cameron Joyce said.

Mason Wood will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after suffering a hamstring strain at training.

"Mason will start his rehabilitation program straight away," North Melbourne football manager Cameron Joyce said.

"We're obviously hoping to have him available as quickly as possible but every step will be taken to ensure he can recover properly and then have an impact for us for the remainder of the year once he's cleared to play."

Mason Wood says he has fully recovered from the knee injury that prematurely ended his 2016 season.

"The medial is rock solid and I haven't had any issues to this point, so it's probably good that I was able to get through to the end of the season and not try particularly hard to push to get back," Wood said.

"(I was able) to make sure that it was ready and locked to go for 2017."

Mason Wood signs a new four year deal with North Melbourne that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.

"We began talks several weeks ago and Mason was always keen to stay at Arden Street," North list manager Cameron Joyce said.

"He has a very bright future at North."

Sydney have denied reports that they are interested in North Melbourne forward Mason Wood.

"I can unequivocally deny that report. We've made no contact with North Melbourne, other than to say we're not interested and we've made no contact with his management group," Swans football manager Tom Harley said.

North Melbourne's bid to re-contract Mason Wood has been set back, with the Sydney Swans making a big play for the young gun forward.

It is believed the Swans' offer for the 22-year-old is up to $500,000 a season.

"There is a lot of demand for Mason,” Strategic Management, who manages Wood, told Channel Nine.

"He is a key forward who can play tall and short, with the running ability of an elite midfielder. His desire is to remain at North Melbourne, but we do need to ascertain his true market value and hopefully North can get as close to that value as possible."

Mason Wood admits exploiting the shot clock for the benefit of his team.

With his team leading by just one-point with 22 seconds left in Sunday's game against the Saints at Etihad Stadium, Wood won a holding the ball free kick against Jack Newnes deep inside his forward 50.

Resembling a basketball player holding the ball in his side's frontcourt with time expiring, Wood used up all of his available 30-second time limit by keeping a close eye on the countdown clock on the scoreboard much to the chagrin of frustrated Saints supporters.

"I'm just playing within the rules and until they (the AFL) change the rules, players will keep doing it," Wood said.

Wood said the thought came to him after he watched teammate Ben Brown run down the clock in similar circumstances late in the game against Fremantle in round four.

"The runner came out and told me there was only 20 seconds left in the match, so no matter how hard the Saints fans booed I was never going to let the footy go," Wood said.

Mason Wood is planning to divide his time between attack and the wing this season in a bid to cement a regular senior berth with North Melbourne.

"I can see myself playing a bit further up the ground (and) a little bit more mobile in the position that is in between key forward and mid/small forward," Wood said.

"If I can play that sort of role, I can be real handy, using my work rate and getting up and down the ground a lot more."

Mason Wood makes his AFL debut for North Melbourne at Docklands Stadium with 7 disposals (6 kicks and a handball), 4 marks, 3 tackles and 3 goals in a 30-point win over Melbourne.