North Melbourne's Mason Wood will miss the beginning of the home and away season and could be sidelined for as long as eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury at training last Friday.
Wood, who played eight games last season before being cut down with a serious season ending knee injury, scored two goals in the side's opening JLT Community Series match against Sydney last week.
"Mason will start his rehabilitation program straight away," North Melbourne football manager Cameron Joyce said on Saturday.
"We're obviously hoping to have him available as quickly as possible but every step will be taken to ensure he can recover properly and then have an impact for us for the remainder of the year once he's cleared to play."
The 23-year-old, No.41 draft pick from 2012, has played a total of 16 career games with the club.
