North Melbourne's forward stocks have been further depleted, with injury-prone tall Mason Wood expected to miss three to four weeks with a hamstring strain.

Wood was injured in the final quarter of North's loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, having led the Roos' goalkickers with 3.3.

AFL.com.au understands scans have revealed Wood's strain is not a severe one, with the 24-year-old hopeful of missing just two games and returning for the Kangaroos' round 18 clash against Collingwood.

However, that timeframe could be overly optimistic, with North's following two games, against the Eagles at Hobart's Blundstone Arena and Brisbane at the Gabba, looming as more likely return dates.

Wood's setback follows Jarrad Waite's recent calf injury that has sidelined the veteran spearhead indefinitely, while medium forward Taylor Garner, who has yet to play a senior game this season, is expected to be out for another five to six weeks with a hamstring injury.

Wood has never played more than 10 games in a season since arriving at Arden St via pick No.41 in 2012's NAB AFL Draft.

Injuries have cruelled him in that time, with his past two seasons prematurely ended by knee (2016) and calf (2017) troubles.

The 24-year-old is one of the Kangaroos' most promising players, but started this season in the VFL as coach Brad Scott and his selection committee asked him to address areas of his game.

Wood earned a recall in round seven against Sydney, and sent a timely reminder of his talents with an outstanding performance that included four goals and nine marks, four of them contested.

In eight games this year, Wood has kicked 15.9, and has gone goalless just once, in round 14 against the Western Bulldogs.

The former Geelong Falcon has played 34 games in six seasons with the Kangaroos.