TOM CURRAN's first two seasons at North Melbourne have been ruined by a recurring foot injury, but the Roos have reaffirmed their faith in the key forward, re-signing him for 2014.

Curran, 19, told AFL.com.au on Tuesday he could not thank the Roos enough for their continued faith in him after two right navicular stress fractures in a year had limited him to six VFL games in his two seasons at the club.

"Obviously coming off the two injuries, it's pretty good to have that security, knowing I've got next year to prolong my career," Curran said.

"But it's not the first time the club's shown faith in players who've been injured at the start of their careers.

"Nathan Grima had a season-ending knee injury (in 2008) and they promoted him from the rookie list to the senior list and Robbie Tarrant had four shoulder reconstructions before he played. 

"'Narni' (Grima) and 'Taz' are now paying the club back for the faith it showed in them and hopefully I'll be able to do the same too."

Curran, 195cm and 96kg, is the son of two-time Hawthorn premiership player Peter Curran, but fell to North at pick No. 40 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft after the Hawks elected not to nominate him as a father-son selection.

Curran had season-ending surgery on his right navicular in June last year, but experienced pain in his foot early this season. After just three VFL games, scans revealed he had suffered a new stress fracture and he underwent surgery again last month. 

Several years ago, navicular injuries ended the careers of All Australian Geelong defender Matthew Egan and premiership Hawthorn defender Trent Croad.

More recently, players such as Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes and Geelong recruit Josh Caddy have made successful returns from the same injury.

Curran's recent surgery was slightly different to last year's, with a bone graft added to "shore up" his foot and the screw in his navicular inserted at a different angle.

Curran is confident this will ensure his right foot can now withstand the rigours of AFL football.

"Josh Caddy had exactly the same surgery a couple of years ago and look at him now, he's playing senior footy at Geelong," Curran says. 

"I'm really confident about it this time around, I'm really confident I'll come back OK."

Curran's confidence has also been bolstered by his quicker recovery from his second bout of surgery.

Where his right foot was in a cast for some time after his 2012 operation, he went straight into a moon boot after this year's surgery. It enabled him to start physio and rehab almost immediately.

Curran is now a month in to his rehabilitation and estimates he is about eight weeks ahead of where he was last year. He has already started to walk on his foot and has been doing his normal weights program.

"I'm stoked with the way it's responded compared to last time," he says.

Curran says there is a "slim chance" he may play again this year, but stresses his main focus is being ready to start the 2014 pre-season on day one.

If he can complete a full pre-season, it will be his first. He sat out virtually all of the 2012 summer after arriving at Aegis Park with a hot spot in his right navicular and did not start 2013 training until last December.

Curran is hoping the coming pre-season will be different and he can build the fitness base he needs to push for a NAB Cup spot, and from there a spot in North's senior team. 

For now, he is keeping himself busy with his rehab and a match-day role in North's stats box compiling data on the Roos' inside 50 entries for forwards coach Brett Allison.

All of which has helped Curran's mind stay off the fact he is missing another season.

"When I first heard the news I had to go back under the knife it was pretty shattering," he says. 

"But you get over that pretty quickly once you get into the rehab and you start getting back into the club and back around the boys.

"Seeing the boys have a win like they did last week against the Saints just creates such a good vibe at the club and you just can't wait to be a part of it yourself."