Defender Aaron Mullett is making good progress from shoulder surgery and has turned to teammates Leigh Adams and Aaron Black for extra support.

The 184cm backman underwent surgery last month to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which is expected to sideline him until at least round seven.

Mullett, who turns 23 later this month, said his rehabilitation is going according to plan.

“I came in last week for the first time (after the operation) and did bikes and leg weights,” Mullett told NMFC.com.au.

“I ran today which is a massive step. I’m still in the sling – just did a few laps – (and) now that I’m getting out there, it’ll improve really quickly in the next week or two.

“I’ll be really ramping up the running sessions and that’s pretty much all I’ll be doing for the next month.”

As part of his recovery, Mullett said he has sought advice from teammates Adams and Black, both of whom underwent shoulder surgeries in the past couple of years.

“Leigh Adams was the one I went to talk to first because he’s been there and done that,” he said.

“Aaron Black said he was in the same boat where he wished he got it done a bit earlier because it did restrict him from playing.

“Speaking to those two, I knew I needed to get it done otherwise (in) round three or round four, I could hurt and that’s the year over, whereas now I can set myself up for a really good end to the year.”

Toe surgery in the 2013 off-season led to a disrupted start last year and Mullett was hoping for an injury-free run this pre-season campaign.

The number 41 said he initially struggled to come to terms with the severity of his recent shoulder setback and feared he’d miss the entire season.

“A couple of weeks before the operation, (I was feeling) pretty bad because I got my toe right and had a pretty bad season last year, so all I really wanted to do was to have a really big season this year,” he said.

“I was doing everything right and I was getting there … and then things like this set you back which, at the time, I was really frustrated and thought my year was over.”

Mullett was in a state of “denial” prior to the operation because the shoulder problems hadn’t hampered his ability to train or play throughout 2014.

After experiencing further discomfort in recent months, he said going under the knife was the only option – and the best one for his long-term prospects.

“It (surgery) needed to happen and it needed to happen now, so we went with it and now the shoulder will be better than ever,” he said.

When Mullett returns to the Roos’ line-up this season, he wants to fulfil a role across half-back and generate his trademark attacking flair from defence.

The running defender keen to return to the “defensive mindset” he showcased in 2013, where he finished equal-fourth in the AFL Rising Star Award and 10th in the club’s best and fairest.

Last year, he played 17 games but featured in just four of North’s last nine matches of the year, missing out on the three finals.

“I’ve just got to go back to a couple of years ago where I was just defend first, then attack and getting the balance right,” Mullett said.

“I want to be playing on the small forwards – the likes of (Cyril) Rioli, (Hayden) Ballantyne – and then just working the other way when we get the ball and running and kicking goals.”

But before returning to North’s defensive half, Mullett said he is aiming to rediscover his best form playing for VFL affiliate North Ballarat.

“I’ll have to play a month (in the VFL) until I can actually put my hand up for AFL selection,” he said.

“That’s going to be a real battle for me and I’m looking forward to it.”