BEN Brown knows the growing competition for key-forward spots at North Melbourne means he can't take his position in attack for granted, but the Tasmanian wouldn't have it any other way.
Brown was a late omission from the Roos' round one team after they elected to play just two key forwards, Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite, in the belief they needed more run against Adelaide.
After North's 77-point loss to the Crows, the 22-year-old earned a recall for Sunday's round two clash against the Brisbane Lions and made the most of his opportunity, kicking 3.1 and dishing off two goal assists.
But Brown knows that when a 2014 senior regular such as Aaron Black has started this season in the VFL it's a simple case of perform or perish for him and North's other tall forwards this season.
"We've had Aaron Black out of the side, Mason Wood has just come in today, there's also guys like Majak Daw and Daniel Currie bashing down the door," Brown told AFL.com.au.
"It just means that week in, week out you've really got to focus and just try and do the things that you know are good for the team.
"I think it really does come back to a team focus for us. The competition is great for us."
Brown had one of the best vantage points at Etihad Stadium as Waite starred against the Lions with an equal career-best seven goals.
The Roos secured Waite in last October's free agency period, luring the spearhead away from Carlton with a two-year offer.
Waite turned 32 last month but North was confident he could still play a valuable role in attack.
The former Blue underlined just how important he could be for North over the next two seasons with a dominant display against the Lions that saw him take 12 marks, five of them contested.
Brown said Waite's presence in attack made life easier for North's other forwards.
"He had a day out. We're not expecting him to kick seven goals every week but we're confident that he can perform, bobbing up with a few here and there," Brown said.
"It makes it a lot easier for the rest of us forwards when you know you've got a really experienced key forward and we know that he can produce.
"Having two really experienced guys in Jarrad and Drew would raise some questions for the opposition too.
"And you chuck in Lindsay Thomas, (Brent) 'Boomer' Harvey, Kayne Turner and Robbie Nahas, there's a lot of experience there and a lot of hard-at-it players and you know week in, week out they're going to get the job done.
"If I can fit into that structure that's fantastic too. If I'm lucky enough to hold my spot I'll cherish it."
