FOR NORTH Melbourne small forward Lindsay Thomas, 2009 was a season spent coping with injury - even though he wasn't the player sitting on the sidelines.

With Brent Harvey (dislocated elbow), Daniel Wells (groin) and Matt Campbell (hamstrings) grounded for a combined 32 weeks of the season, including four games together, Thomas' importance to the side suddenly swelled.

Shannon Grant's retirement at the end of 2008 had also created a void as North struggled to keep its forward line intact, and Thomas admitted to pressure in the absence of his senior teammates.

"It was pretty tough this year, and frustrating," Thomas said.

"Two years ago, when we had Shannon Grant in the team, Matt Campbell and I were getting the third or fourth [small] defender, which made it a bit easier for us.

"[Last season] we were getting the first and second defenders and it really tested us. I could have played better but, in saying that, it has just made me more determined to have a better season in 2010."

Drew Petrie (27 goals) and David Hale (22) were the only players to kick more goals than Thomas, who contributed 21 from his 19 games but was still dropped from the side on two occasions.

The 21-year-old was also given a handful of opportunities in the midfield, which he said should increase in 2010 as he, Harvey, Campbell and Cruize Garlett are rotated through that part of the ground.

However, North would also be aware of how damaging the Thomas-Campbell combination can be when both players are kept within goal range.

After managing 20 goals between them in their debut season, they kicked 64 in 2008.

Thomas said he and Campbell found confidence when playing alongside each other; a sentiment that also extended to Wells and Garlett, who featured in five games last season to earn promotion to the senior list.

"We both know each other's game and it makes it a lot easier," he said.

"But Matty would be a good addition to any team you put him in.

"Wellsy's been really good with all of us," he added. "He's smart and has everything you'd ever want in a footy player. Anything he says to us we really take it on board."

Given his growing responsibility, Thomas said he was still nervous before games but that the feeling barely lasted beyond the opening bounce.

"You get a few early touches and you think you're going alright," he said.

"For me it's still realising that I'm actually playing the highest league in Australia, especially coming from a small town like Port Lincoln (in South Australia)."

Thomas said he would use his three years' experience to guide another indigenous player, Warren Benjamin, who joined the Roos in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

Last month, senior assistant coach Darren Crocker listed Thomas among the club's better performers of the pre-season.