A MORE mature Marley Williams is flourishing in the second coming of his career at North Melbourne. 

The former Magpie is "loving life" at his new home at Arden Street, with the small defender producing some of the most consistent football of his 78-game AFL career for North in 2017. 

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott labelled the 23-year-old recruit as "crucial" to the Roos' backline stocks after Williams played a pivotal role in the side's 17-point win over Carlton last Sunday. 

Williams, traded to North Melbourne in exchange for pick No.105 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, said the move had been the best thing for him.

"I love it. Ever since day one it's just been so easy for me. The boys have been so welcoming," Williams, who has played every game this season, told AFL.com.au. 

"It hasn't been that long. But I guess getting a trade and coming into a new football environment it's really matured me a lot and where I want to go with my football."

Williams fell out of favour in his final year at Collingwood, with a foot injury and poor form limiting him to just 11 games in 2016, for a total of 68 in the black and white guernsey. 

The Pies had queries on Williams' kicking - he operated at 66.8 per cent across his career at Collingwood - and believed they were well stocked for small defenders with Ben Sinclair, Brayden Maynard and Jackson Ramsay the preferred options heading in 2017.

North identified the need for a hard-nosed defender to play on the opposition's most dangerous forwards, and, for the most part, Williams has been able to fill those roles this season. 

Williams kept West Coast's Mark LeCras goalless in round one, before being tasked with important jobs on Greater Western Sydney's Toby Greene (three goals) in round three, Fremantle's Michael Walters (zero goals) in round five and Adelaide's Eddie Betts (three goals) in round seven.

Williams then kept in-form forward Jeff Garlett to six kicks and zero goals in a fine shutdown role in the Roos' 14-point win over Melbourne in round nine. 

The tough left-footer had 24 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency, with five intercepts and 406m gained against Carlton to further exhibit his offensive prowess.

Williams has improved his kicking efficiency to 73.7 per cent this season, and provided important drive from defence for the Roos.

Stats also show Williams has become more adept in his contested work against his opponents. 

The Roos defender has lost just 22.2 per cent of his contests in a one-on-one battle with his opponent (equal 16th in the AFL among general defenders), much more impressive than the 44.4 per cent that he achieved at the Pies last season.

Marley Williams is 'loving life' as a Kangaroo. Picture: AFL Photos

"It's going back to the basics, really," Williams said.

"I get the role on the best small forward each week and the club back me in to take them and I back myself to get right on top of them." 

Scott agreed Williams was the major benefactor of a new environment. 

"Marley's a great guy to have around the footy club," Scott said. 

"He plays a crucial role, he's loving life, he's loving the footy club and the players are loving having him in the team so he continues to take great strides forward."

In April 2014, Williams received a 12-month suspended sentence in a Perth court after being convicted of grievous bodily harm following a one-punch attack in 2012. 

Williams understands that incident will be part of his football and life journey, although he gained a new perspective when he completed a stint with the Salvation Army in 2013 assisting in the soup vans set up for the underprivileged across Melbourne.

The defender has also recently helped launch an "urban wellness centre" in St Kilda, which has a focus on floatation devices, salt rooms and massage for sports recovery purposes.

"I've matured a lot more over the last six months, so I guess I've learnt plenty (from that incident in 2014)," Williams said. 

How Marley Williams has flourished as a Roo

Stats supplied by Champion Data