North forward Ben Brown says he and his teammates are fully aware of how much work is ahead of them as they prepare for another Premiership tilt in 2016.

Brown, who has played in two Preliminary Finals in his two years at the club could be forgiven for thinking playing in September was easy, but the Tasmanian knows the hard work required to make an impact at the pointy end of the season.

“I’m no stranger the thinking that you don’t make finals very often,” Brown told NMFC.com.au in Utah.

“I’ve been really lucky to play in two years of finals in succession. So, hopefully we can go there again, but we really have to make the most of this time while we can.”

Brown admitted the pain of falling short of a Grand Final berth in the past two years was driving him and the entire playing group.

“Obviously it still hurts, (but) we’ve got to keep reminding ourselves of the last two years and the Prelim Finals,” he said.

With the desire to improve driving everyone at Arden St, Brown has flagged 2016 as a year to cement his spot in the side.

“I’m going to be working really hard over the off-season and the pre-season to make sure I’m injury free, making sure I get through the year and I’m getting fitter and stronger and working on those things that in the finals last season and throughout the year I really need to work on.”

For Brown, this pre-season will be the first uninterrupted by injury and the prospect of a full pre-season is one that excites the 23-year-old.

“Absolutely, it’s really exciting. I’m looking forward to getting out there and doing most of the running sessions with the guys,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to get out there and do a heap of running and a heap of work in the weights room and trying to get really fit and strong for next seasons and hopefully building to bigger and better things.”

Brown said the pre-season camp in Utah was a terrific opportunity for the younger group of players attending the camp to gel.

“Being up in the altitude, obviously the first few days you struggle to breathe a bit and a few guys have struggled to get in a full night’s sleep.

“(It’s) a good chance to bond with the guys, get a bit closer.”

One of those players he will no doubt get to know more during the pre-season will be fellow Tasmanian and new draftee, Mitch Hibberd.

“After ‘Narni’ (Nathan Grima) went, we had to get the (Tasmanian) quota back up to two. I actually played with Mitch’s older brother Jarrod when I went through the Tassie Mariners, I know their family and I’m sure we’ll get on well.

“Anything that I can offer, I’ll try to.”