WHEN Cameron Wood sat down to watch The Lion King on New York's famous Broadway recently, he didn't think he would have to relive the most galling moment of his 2014 season.

It came in the dying minutes of Carlton's agonising five-point loss to Fremantle in round 19 at Patersons Stadium.

With the Blues clinging to a one-point lead, Wood sharked the ball from a ruck contest in Fremantle's goal square, hurriedly swivelled onto his right foot and put the ball on the chest of Docker Lachie Neale 25m out from goal, dead in front.

Neale coolly converted to put the Dockers five points up and, with just 40 seconds remaining on the clock, Freo hung on to win as the Blues and Wood mounted one last attack.

The Blues' disappointment was compounded by the fact they had led for most of the second half.

It was just Wood's second game for his third AFL club, with the ruckman making his debut for the Blues a week earlier against North Melbourne.

Wood was entitled to wonder whether his slip-up would count against him at the selection table, but Blues coach Mick Malthouse, who had coached the ruckman at Collingwood from 2008-2011, showed faith in him.

Wood would hold his spot in the Carlton team ahead of fellow ruckman Robert Warnock for the rest of the year, his strong finish to the season ultimately earning him a two-year contract extension.

But the South Australian's clanger against the Dockers would still come back to bite him as he unwound in New York during the off-season.

"I was sitting next to a couple of ladies watching The Lion King on Broadway and they were from Perth and they said they were at that game," Wood said.

"I can't really get away from it, it's in the back of my mind.

"It was unfortunate, but there were a few things that we could have done differently at the end of that game.

"Hopefully, next year we'll be able to squeeze out a few close wins and have a good season."

Wood spoke to the media at Carlton Primary School on Tuesday, when he and club mascot Captain Carlton were delivering more than 450 books.

Carlton Primary's students are largely from migrant and refugee backgrounds and their efforts to improve their reading and writing have been hindered by the fact most do not have books at home.

Carlton ran a book drive last week to help, with members, supporters and staff all making donations.

Wood and teammate Simon White will also run a literacy program at the school next year.

Wood is looking forward to his continued involvement with Carlton Primary, having enrolled to study teaching at Victoria University's Footscray campus late last year.

At the time, he was intending to study full-time, thinking he would continue in the VFL with Williamstown in 2014.

He had joined the Seagulls after being delisted by Collingwood at the end of 2012 and thought his AFL career, which began at the Brisbane Lions from 2005-2007, was over after eight seasons and 64 games.

However, Wood's study plans changed when the Blues unexpectedly revived his AFL career in last year's rookie draft.

Wood still started his teaching course this year, but is working towards his goal of becoming a primary school teacher on a part-time basis.

The 27-year-old will start next season where he began this year – on the Blues' rookie list.

He also freely acknowledges that competition for spots in Carlton's ruck division will be fiercer next year, with Matthew Kreuzer on track to return from the foot injury that decimated his 2014 season.

But Wood is confident he can build on his strong finish to this year and believes his best football is still ahead of him.

"Just my maturity in general has gone up a whole lot (since I was delisted by Collingwood)," Wood says.

"I learnt a few things in my 'gap year', I guess.

"I've got a different perspective on not just footy but life, and I'm really enjoying it."