A week is a long time in football and two weeks can feel like eternity. Just ask Kieran Harper.

Frustrated by constant injury niggles for the past two seasons, the talented forward admits he had almost given up on his ambition to fight for a recall into the North Melbourne side this year.

However a recent change of fortune over the past fortnight has given him the mental boost he was looking for.

“Two weeks ago I would have said I was no chance of playing AFL this year, but the last couple of weeks in the VFL have been good for my confidence,” Harper told NMFC.com.au.

“I feel a lot closer to a recall today than what I did a couple of weeks ago.”

Harper hasn’t played in North colours since Round 3, 2013 with form and injuries preventing him from adding to his 40 career games.

The 23-year-old has endured had a wretched run with the ankle he injured last year requiring follow-up surgery on the eve of the current season.

He was then forced to go in for a procedure on a sore knee in May which hampered his progress further.

Playing for Werribee against Williamstown on Saturday, Harper had his best game of the year and helped the Tigers to a big win.

“The injuries do play on your mind when you’re out there playing,” Harper said.

“But I came in today the best I’ve felt all year.”

He said he came in better prepared mentally having worked closely with development coach Gavin Brown during the week.

“Browny and I watched some vision of my games when I was actually playing for North Melbourne and that helped me with the confidence building issues that I’ve had,” Harper said.

But being mentally switched on was just one factor.

“I felt great physically too and was able to run out the game completely,” he said.

“I was good being free enough not to have to think about all the niggles I’ve been carrying. I was able to use my speed a lot more and take the game on, which is something I haven’t really been able to do until now.”

Harper was noticeably more aggressive in his approach out at Williamstown, especially in the second half when the contest became significantly more intense.

“I just think that if you can come out and be the aggressor, you can be on the front foot and it means they’re reacting to you as opposed to the other way around,” he explained.

“It’s important that they’re reacting to me rather than me reacting to what they’re doing.”

Two heavy tackles that resulted in free kicks were just two of Harper’s highlights as well as 19 possessions, 7 tackles, 6 inside 50s and 6 marks.

“I started well in the first quarter and got my hands on it a bit,” he said.

“In the second half, my legs were still ticking over really well so it was good to get on the end of it when the space was opening up.

“Actually having an impact offensively was pleasing.”