Last September, there was speculation North Melbourne was toying with the idea of rushing key forward Nathan Thompson back into its side for the finals. Now, Thompson is playing for his football life.
The 31-year-old, by his own admission, has endured a tough and frustrating run this season with injury and form after missing all of last season due to a knee reconstruction.
His first nine games this season yielded 24 goals, including two bags of four and one of five, but minor problems to the knee he hurt last year has since held him back.
"The first part of the year was really good, started to find some touch but after that I've hit a run of injuries, little things, so that's been very frustrating," Thompson said.
"But I'm working hard and my fitness still feels good."
"(It's) just a matter of getting myself out there for a few games in a row and I really feel like my touch is there again."
On Sunday against the Western Bulldogs, he was again hampered injury. This time to his ankle, an injury which he said should not hurt his chances of facing Carlton on Sunday.
With ruckman Hamish McIntosh and forward Aaron Edwards set to return from injury in the run to September, 'it just makes it hard to get a spot', Thompson said.
North's leading goal-kicker in 2005-06, Thompson's future beyond this season was also uncertain.
But he said that was not worrying him. Thompson, who said he would be better off for another full pre-season, still believed he was capable of playing well at the highest level.
"If I didn't think that I'll certainly hang up the boots. I think I can still certainly play at this level and it's just a matter of getting the body right," he said.
"The game's too hard to be playing when you're not fit and you've got injuries. Here's hoping that I can get myself right as far as the physical side of things go because everything else is going quite well."
"The way I've been looking at it at the moment is I can't control whether the club wants me for next year or whether they don't. All I can do is try and get myself fit."
"As I've said, it's been unfortunate that I've had a few injuries but the rest of my body feels really good and I certainly want to play on next year. (I'll) leave that with the hands of the club."