NORTH MELBOURNE power forward Nathan Thompson readily admits he has struggled to adjust to the faster tempo of AFL football during the first four weeks of the season after missing 12 months with a knee reconstruction.

“It’s been very tough,” he said. “I felt like I’d been run over by a truck after the first couple of weeks just trying to recover after a full match of footy.

“But I’m gradually getter better, recovery’s getting quicker, and I’m gradually getting used to it.

“If I can get out there each week and kick a couple of goals and top up with a five or a four, I’ll be absolutely rapt.”

Thompson contributed five of his side’s 18 goals against Melbourne, with three of those coming in the last quarter.

“It wasn’t a great game by any means, but I kicked straight when I had the chances, and that’s all you have to do as a forward,” he said.

Thompson did not have a kick in the opening 20 minutes when the Roos registered seven points before Lindsay Thomas opened the side’s account with a brilliant left-foot snap from the boundary line.

Thomas and fellow crumber Matt Campbell have added another dimension to the Roos forward set-up, and Thompson says their contribution is invaluable.

“They’re very fast, they put pressure on players going the other way, and they’ve made a big difference to our side,” he said.

With Corey Jones and Aaron Edwards also providing potent scoring options, the Roos are well placed to kick big scores this season.

Thompson says the added speed of the game this year will also help his chances.

“The pace of the game has definitely got quicker,” he said.

“It has become a more attacking game in the year I missed.

“Probably two years ago when I last played, teams were dropping more numbers back and there was a lot more chipping sideways, whereas now it’s more of a forward-moving game, which is great. I reckon it’s a better spectacle.

“With lots of rotations, the midfielders are able to keep up their pace and keep the ball going forwards, so I reckon it will be better for me. I’ll be able to play deeper forward.”