Mason Wood admits he's "frustrated" by the lack of game time he's managed for North this season, but feels he's now better placed to seize his chance.

The 21-year-old played six of the first eight games for the Roos this season, but hasn't been able to regain his spot since being dropped in round nine.

Wood said he was disappointed by his lack of progress despite a promising start.

"I'm frustrated that after starting the year playing six of the first eight (games), I haven't managed to crack back in," Wood told NMFC.com.au on Tuesday.

"I'm getting close but not quite as close as you'd like to be, so that's the most frustrating thing.

"I would like to think I’d be better prepared, if I came into the team now, to come in and stay in."

Wood took another step towards his AFL comeback last weekend, kicking three goals for VFL affiliate Werribee.

"I had five shots at goal and kicked 3.2 … and my defensive side of my game, I didn't have any major blues," he said.

"It's starting to come together and over the coming weeks I'd hope to be getting closer and closer to getting back into the team."

The 192cm utility was overlooked from the squad in favour of fellow forward Aaron Black in round 16 against Essendon to replace suspended key forward Drew Petrie.

Wood acknowledged the challenges he'd had to face after being omitted from the team earlier this season.

"It's tough when you get dropped from the senior side; it's hard to come back in," he said.

"We've got a pretty healthy list at the minute so it's not just about waiting around to see if you can get a game, you've got to be pushing and playing really good football."

Wood said staying "100 per cent focused" on the field and eliminating his in-game "lapses" would help his chances of a call-up.

The seven-gamer identified his skills at ground level, tackling ability and one-on-one marking technique as areas he had to fine-tune.

"It's ground balls and my intensity around the ball that I'm still working on week to week," he said.

"They're not major flaws in my game, they're just things I need to get right and do consistently."

Wood said he was remaining upbeat and was eager to challenge for a position in the Roos' squad with just five home and away games remaining.

"I'd love another opportunity, that's the one thing I'm striving for," he said.

"It'd be a shame to have such a good start to the year and then not get another opportunity to play.”