CAMERON Wood was delivered a wake up call at the start of last year that may prove to be the turning point of the Collingwood ruckman's career.

Wood, 25, is in his seventh year of AFL football after a stint at the Brisbane Lions, and has played 58 games without cementing his spot in a best 22.

He played 12 matches last year and showed good form, but struggled to hold his spot with Darren Jolly and the now-retired Leigh Brown in favour.

After a talk with the coaching staff at the start of 2011, Wood has become more committed, and has given himself the best chance of extending his career.

"We had discussions early last year and he's picked up off the back of that and really made some changes in his life," coach Nathan Buckley said on Thursday.

"It's great to see a young person understand the situation they're in, and not expect things are just going to change without their will and their actions, and he's been able to do that."

Wood will play his first AFL game for the year on Friday night against Carlton after overcoming post-season shoulder surgery.

After two games in the VFL, he'll be called upon to face Blues big men Matthew Kreuzer and Shaun Hampson.

Buckley said Wood had been "very diligent" as he recovered from the surgery, but over the past year had shown the most positive signs in his career.

"Really in the last 12 months, we've seen the emergence of a likely first ruckman for our side in the future," he said.

"I don't think, up until that point, Woody had given himself the best chance to be a professional footballer.

"He hadn't behaved like a professional footballer and he's really had a look at his life, his opportunities as a footballer and he's come along in leaps and bounds.

"His diligence in his rehab has been excellent and he's not leaving any stone unturned now and he really has tuned his prospects around.

"I think in the next four or five years, we've got a very real prospect as a player for the club that may not have been there 12 months ago."

The return of a second ruckman will see Chris Dawes spend more time in his traditional role up forward after pinch-hitting for Jolly in the first two rounds.

Buckley said it would not necessarily spell the end of Dawes' cameo ruck role, and emerging ruckmen Jonathon Ceglar and Jarrod Witts would also feature throughout the year.

He said Wood's availability had come at a good time given Carlton's talented big men.

"It's going to be a challenge for Darren, Woody and Dawesy. That's one part of the game and we need to make sure the synergy between our rucks and our ground level players is good," he said.

"Hampson has been dangerous forward as well so that will be an important role for one of our defenders."

Jennifer Witham is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.