REJUVENTATED defender Sam Wright will play on at North Melbourne in 2016 after activating a trigger clause in his existing contract.

Wright signed a two-year contract with the Roos in 2013 but AFL.com.au understands he automatically earned another season at Arden Street when he played his 20th game for 2015 last Sunday against Fremantle.

The defender is now set to become a free agent at the end of next season, but it's believed he is in talks for a longer-term deal that would tie him to the Roos beyond 2016.

Wright has been a revelation for North in defence since being allowed to settle there in the second half of last season.

Dropped three times in the first half of 2014, he soon cemented himself in the Roos' backline after earning a recall against Hawthorn in round 16, and was one of the catalysts for North's second-half comeback against Essendon in the second elimination final.

Wright has carried that momentum into this season when he has played every game and averaged 19.1 possessions at 82 per cent efficiency.

He also leads the Roos for rebound 50s (69), is second for marks (108), third for running bounces (21), sixth for one-percenters (39) and equal eighth for contested marks (11).

The former Murray Bushranger has played 104 games for North since being selected at pick No.27 in the 2008 national draft.