NORTH Melbourne forward Aaron Black is confident he can bounce back from a "pretty annoying" 2014 season.
Black played every game this year but could not reach the heights of his breakthrough 2013 season, with a shoulder injury severely limiting his training and affecting his on-field confidence.
The 24-year-old had post-season surgery on his shoulder and won't resume contact training until mid-January.
Black told NMFC.com.au on Tuesday that his recovery is progressing well as he targets a return in round one of the NAB Challenge.
"I've got full movement in my arm and now (I'm) just trying to get my strength back," Black says.
"The good thing, I guess, if you take a positive out of having shoulder problems, is that you do all the running while the boys are out there training."
Black also says he is gradually regaining confidence in his body and hopes that confidence will flow into his football in 2015.
"It was pretty annoying (this year) because I wouldn't be able to do weights or go out and do full training with the boys, it was just a lot of skill work," Black says.
"My output probably wasn't as good as the year before, but a lot of that has to do with confidence in football."
With the arrival of former Carlton spearhead Jarrad Waite in October's free agency period, and the emergence of fellow tall Ben Brown in this year's finals series, the competition for spots in North's attack next year will be fierce.
But Black is welcoming the challenge.
"I've gotten along really well with 'Waitey' so far, he's a good bloke and (his signing is) good for the club," he says.
"It makes everyone train harder, play harder and it's going to push the club forward which is a good thing."
