Ben Warren Biography

North Melbourne's Lachie Hansen believes a settled defence means he can now pinch-hit a lot more in attack after having to replace the injured Ben Warren against the Bulldogs in the forward lines.

"I hadn't really trained as a forward before. I was going to play down back, just helping out the backline on the weekend," Hansen said.

"It was a bit different and it took a while for me to get into the game but I had a couple of shots on goal and started to get a feeling for what it is like to be up forward and it wasn't too bad.

"It's a different role but I had a bit more freedom to run around and go for my marks and stuff.

"I quite enjoyed it so hopefully I get another go next week, after I train up a bit more and learn some leading patterns and stuff."

Young North forward Ben Warren has been taken to hospital after coming from the field in the first term of his side's battle with the Western Bulldogs.

Warren, 20, left the field at the six-minute mark of the first quarter and was unable to put weight on his right leg.

Young North Melbourne forward Ben Warren has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken cheekbone.

North Melbourne's Ben Warren has replaced the player who has helped him the most: veteran Corey Jones.

"It definitely was a slow, gradual improvement. I think I have a bit of talent - that's obviously why I got drafted - but I just needed to work on so many different areas to play senior footy. I definitely wasn't ready for senior footy," Warren said.

"For the last two years he has watched nearly every one of my VFL games with me and gone through and given me little pointers here and there and you can't buy the experience he's had. During the week we have to go through our vision with the coach and he always sits in with me and has been a massive help, a massive reason why I've improved."