INJURY-cursed North Melbourne defender Sam Wright has turned to the performing arts in a desperate bid to resurrect his football career. 

Wright, 27, and fellow Kangaroo Ben Jacobs, 25, have endured two nightmare seasons dealing with respective foot and ankle problems, and repeat surgeries. 

Neither footballer played at AFL level this year – robbing the club of two best-22 staples – and they combined for just 15 games in 2016.

The club medical staff's radical decision to approach the Australian Ballet's principal physiotherapist, Sue Mayes, for help and subsequent positive results have buoyed Wright.

"Ballerinas are just incredible, really – they're just so strong," the 116-gamer told nmfc.com.au. 

"Their technique and foot intrinsics (muscles) in their foot are just so strong.

"I thought I had bad feet, but some of their feet are pretty bad and the injuries they've gone through, to come out the other side (gives me hope)." 

Mayes has Wright, who made three VFL appearances in 2017 either side of setbacks, and Jacobs performing exercises typically used to strengthen ballet dancers' feet and ankles.

"(The exercises) can be really helpful for all athletes, but particularly guys who have to jump so high and run so fast," Mayes said.

"They actually don't really look like ballet steps, but they're exercises we give our dancers every day.

"(Wright)'s worked really hard … he's not only done quantity, but he's done fantastic quality at really focusing in on those little muscles."

Wright has put aside his teammates' playful teasing to focus on something that could consign two difficult years to the memory bank.

His experience, dash and sound decision-making will be even more valuable after North's drastic transformation from one of the AFL's oldest lists to one of its youngest.

"There are certain things I have to pass now – four or five things – to start back running and they're underway now," he said.

"Then I'll have four or five things that I have to pass to get back playing. 

"It's a really structured program she's got me on, but one that hopefully can extend my career and get me back playing good footy.

"The last few years have been pretty tough (for me and Jacobs), but now we've got Sue, it's given us a new lease on our football and hopefully we can both get back playing and really make the ends of our career really good."