Kangaroos midfielder Daniel Wells expects his AFL team will reap the major benefits of their rigorous preparation through the middle of the regular season.

Wells and his teammates started their pre-season in mid-October, with the Kangaroos determined to beef up their fitness after last year's 14th placing.

"It was pretty tough physically, but probably the main aspect of it was mentally," Wells said of the pre-season.

"We did a couple of camps and it really tested you, how bad you wanted to play - it really took you to places where you probably never thought you could go.

"That's the whole idea of the camp and we'll see how it goes during the middle of the year.

"At the start everyone is up and going, nice and fresh ... after (round five), that's when the pace drops off a little bit and your mental toughness needs to come to the top."

Apart from the extra-long preparation, it has been an eventful off-season for the club.

They lost key forward Nathan Thompson for the year with a knee reconstruction, defender Jonathan Hay retired and speculation continues about their long-term future as they start playing games on the Gold Coast.

Thompson's injury in a trial match is a particularly savage blow for the club.

Wells said it was up to midfielders such as himself to contribute more goals and he wants to kick at an average of at least one per game.

"The onus has to go a fair bit back on the midfield, we have a more attacking brand (of football) this year and that should show with myself, Brent Harvey, Shannon Grant and also Lindsay Thomas, guys like that," he said.

Wells also agreed with a general perception that for the Roos to improve this year, he has to lift.

"It's (my) fifth year this year, so they have every right to say that, I need to step up and be a lot more consistent," he said.

"I showed a bit last year towards the consistency, but it needs to go up another level for myself to play well and for the team to make a (stand)."