"The medial is rock solid and I haven't had any issues to this point, so it's probably good that I was able to get through to the end of the season and not try particularly hard to push to get back," Wood told SEN on Wednesday.
"(I was able) to make sure that it was ready and locked to go for 2017."
Wood spent time in 2016 playing as both a fourth tall behind Drew Petrie, Jarrad Waite and Ben Brown, but also took Waite's place between Rounds 14-16 when he was out with a hip injury.
After getting a taste of playing two different roles Wood believes he'll be better for the experience, but given Petrie's exit, Wood is anticipating a role as the third big man when Round 1 rolls around.
"It's as competitive as it's been (in my time at the club) for spots in the forward line, so it's going to be very, very interesting which way [North's match committee] is going to go," Wood said.
"I'm thinking three talls and three smalls, plus one coming off the bench, plus blokes running through the midfield as well.
"That's what we went with in the past, that's what I feel like worked the best."