MICHAEL Hibberd says the inclusion of Sam Frost, for Saturday’s clash against North Melbourne at the MCG, will allow him to play his more familiar run-and-carry style, rather than a deeper defensive, one-on-one role.

Hibberd, who was outstanding in his first season with Melbourne last year, claiming All-Australian honours, was noted for his dash and ability to gain meterage with the ball.

So far, in his first two rounds, Hibberd said his role was a little different against Geelong and Brisbane Lions, but he expects that to change on the weekend, given Melbourne now has three talls down back: Frost, Jake Lever and Oscar McDonald.

“With Frosty back this week, it might free me up a bit, which will allow me to use my run and carry, as it’s probably my biggest strength,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve been horrible so far this year, but I don’t think I’ve been shooting the lights down either.

“Hopefully I can just keep building and the more match fitness I get, the better form I’ll get into. The more matches I play, the better I’ll be.”

Still, Hibberd said he didn’t mind playing a deeper, one-on-one role, if the team needed it.

“It’s a little bit of an adjustment, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before,” he said.

“One-on-one defending is also a strength of mine and doing that in the first two rounds helped fill a role, and I was able to do a decent job. If I get called upon to do it again, I’m happy to do it, but I enjoy getting the ball in my hands further up the ground.

“I’ve played on the second tall a few times in my career and I did it a little bit late last year and when I was at Essendon. I’m sure I’ll do it again, but definitely playing that high half-back is something I’m more accustomed to and I’m better at doing.

Hibberd said Frost, along with small forward Dean Kent, had simply forced their way into the team.

“Frosty gives us a bit more height down back. He can play on the key talls, but he can actually play on smalls too, because he’s pretty quick. He gives us a bit of versatility down in the back line,” he said.

“Kenty had about 35 disposals and kicked four goals last week in the VFL. Leading into that, he’s been training really well and knocking down the door.

“It’s good to have them back, so hopefully both of those boys can hold their spots and have good years.”

After missing the opening four rounds last year, after knee problems in the pre-season, Hibberd said he was far more advanced at this stage compared to last season.

“I completed 85 to 90 per cent of the pre-season with the main group, whereas last year I only did about 50 per cent – if that,” he said.

“I definitely think my body is in much better nick this year and I’m better conditioned to finish off a whole year of footy, whereas I missed the first month last year.

“I played pretty consistently after that, but having a whole pre-season under your belt definitely holds you in good stead, so I’m feeling pretty confident.”

As for how he sees this weekend’s clash panning out, Hibberd expects it to be a genuine contest.

“They’ve had our measure for a while now, so we’re due to get one over them. They were very good against the Saints last week, so we know that we’re going to come out firing,” he said.

“We know it’ll be won around the contest, but if we bring our strength, which is contested ball – it’ll go a long way to winning.”